Abstract:To study the proliferation of Cryptosporidium andersoni in human ileocecal adenocarcinom (HCT-8) cells and human stomach adenocarcinoma (AGS) cells. HCT-8 and AGS cells were harvested at mid-exponential phase and planted in 6 well plates. When the monolayers reached 60%~70% confluency, the excysted oocysts (2.5×105/well) were inoculated into cells and parasite growth was terminated at 24 h and 48 h. Then the proliferation of parasites was determined by Giemsa staining and real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay. At 24 h and 48 h, the number of parasites in HCT-8 cells was higher than that of AGS cells (P < 0.05) by Giemsa staining. The copies of COWP gene in HCT-8 cells were also higher than those of AGS cells (P < 0.05) by real-time PCR assay. We found that the HCT-8 cell line was a more suitable host model to support Cryptosporidium andersoni proliferation than that of AGS cell line.