Use of a non-adherent cell culture system for testing the effect of 2′,3′-dideoxyinosine againstCryptosporidium parvum

Abstract

The in vitro cultivation of Cryptosporidium parvum in the non‐adherent cell line THP‐1 was evaluated for its capability as a useful additional model to investigate the effect of drugs on this parasite. The purine analog antiviral 2′,3′‐dideoxyinosine (ddI) was evaluated and compared to the reference molecule paromomycin in sequential 24 hour experiments beginning at 24 and 72 hour post‐infection. The ability of this technique to evaluate the various parasite stages showed that ddI displayed a dose‐dependent efficacy especially on the trophozoite and sexual stages. Paromomycin displayed a lower efficacy than previously reported. Both drugs induced a decrease in the number of multiparasitized cells. These results indicate that the purine salvage pathway should be a key chemotherapeutic target against C. parvum.