Cryptosporidiosis in cats, dogs, ferrets, raccoons, opossums, rabbits, and non-human primates

Cryptosporidium infection in the domestic cat (Felis catus) was first reported in 1979 when oocysts were detected in feces from 5 of 13 cats examined. 370 Developmental stages were limited to the small intestine. Adult cats, but not mice (ICR strain) or guinea pigs (Hartley strain), were infected by oral challenge with oocysts collected in feces or small intestine mucosal scrapings from naturally infected cats. Based on these cross-transmission studies, the name Cryptosporidium felis was proposed to designate the species infecting cats. However, the organism described is morphologically and developmentally indistinguishable from Cryptosporidiumparvum. ^808,844 Lack of transmission to mice in the single transmission trial conducted may have been age related, because 7-week-old mice, which may be resistant to Cryptosporidium infection, 328,734 were used. Furthermore, C. parvum isolates from calves and human beings are infectious to cats. ^61,186,619 Therefore, until distinct differences can be shown, C. felis should be considered C. parvum.