Changes in intestinal structure and function of neonatal calves infected with reovirus-like agent and Eschericia coli.
Measurements of villus/crypt length ratio and mucosal beta-galactosidase activity were made on calves less than 3 weeks of age which had diarrhoea associated with reovirus-like agent and E. coli. In calves with diarrhoea, the villus/crypt length ratios at all sites examined along the small intestine were less than in normal calves of similar age. This was attributed to a reduction in length of vili in calves infected with the reovirus-like agent. The activity of mucosal beta-galactosidase in the intestine of calves with diarrhoea was less than in normal calves, at all sites examined. A relationship existed between beta-galactosidase activity in vitro and lactose hydrolysis in vivo. It was concluded that calves with diarrhoea associated with reovirus-like agent, have a reduced ability to utilize dietary lactose.
D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D002417:Cattle; D002418:Cattle Diseases / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology*; D004927:Escherichia coli Infections / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D005696:Galactosidases / Q000378:metabolism; D007421:Intestine, Small / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology*; D012088:Reoviridae Infections / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*
D005696:Galactosidases