Skip to main content
. 2025 Jan 13;19(1):e0012777. doi: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0012777

Fig 4. Differences in histological changes and parasite load of intestinal tissues among mice infected with Δins-19, Δins-20, and IId-GFP lines of Cryptosporidium parvum.

Fig 4

(A) Hematoxylin and eosin microscopy images of the ileum from GKO mice infected with IId-GFP, Δins-19 and Δins-20 lines taken at high magnification. Scale bars = 10 μm. (B) Parasite load in the intestine from GKO mice infected with IId-GFP, Δins-19 and Δins-20 lines. The INS-20 gene knockout significantly reduces the Cryptosporidium load (p = 0.2294 and p < 0.0001 for Δins-19 and Δins-20). N = 25. Bar indicates standard deviation. (C) Hematoxylin and eosin microscopy images of the ileum of GKO mice infected with IId-GFP, Δins-19 and Δins-20 lines taken at low magnification. Scale bars = 50 μm. (D) The ratio of villus to crypt depth of GKO mice infected with IId-GFP, Δins-19 and Δins-20 lines. Knockout of INS-19 or INS-20 genes attenuates the pathological damage in the mouse intestine (p = 0.0004 and p = 0.0054 for Δins-19 and Δins-20). N = 25. Bar indicates standard deviation. (E) Cryptosporidium load in the intestines of GKO mice infected with IId-GFP, Δins-19 and Δins-20 lines using scanning electron microscopy. The absence of each reduces the Cryptosporidium load. For the top three images, scale bar = 30 μm, for the bottom three images, scale bar = 10 μm.