Cryptosporidium spp. Infections
Hamsters are naturally and experimentally susceptible to infection with Cryptosporidium muris and Cryptosporidium parvum. Hamster isolates of C. muris have been shown to belong to a distinct genotype that differs from C.
muris isolated from bovine and camel hosts. Experimental infections with C. parvum have revealed that aged hamsters (20-24 months) shed higher numbers of oocysts compared to younger hamsters (8-12 weeks). Microscopic findings in the aged hamsters included the presence of organisms attached to villus enterocytes, villus attenuation, and crypt hyperplasia within the small intestine, whereas lesions were absent in juvenile hamsters. In another study with C. muris, very young hamsters (1 week old) were more susceptible than adult hamsters (5 and 10 weeks of age). Collectively, these studies revealed that immune senescence in aged hamsters and immunodeficiency in infant hamsters contributed to higher susceptibility. Natural infections with unidentified Cryptosporidium spp. have been documented as incidental findings in hamsters with proliferative ileitis (Lawsonia intracellularis infection). Cryptosporidiosis may be common, but overlooked and inapparent, relative to the frequency and significance of other enteric infections in hamsters. Diagnosis is generally achieved by visualization of typical organisms embedded in the brush border of villus enterocytes.
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