The effect of protein-energy malnutrition and refeeding on the adherence of Salmonella typhimurium to small intestinal mucosa and isolated enterocytes in rats.
The adherence of fimbriated (Fim+) and nonfimbriated (Fim-) strains of Salmonella typhimurium to both isolated intestinal epithelial cells and intact intestinal mucosa of healthy and malnourished rats was investigated. Fim+ strains bound in significantly higher numbers than did Fim- strains to enterocytes isolated either from healthy or malnourished rats. Adherence to intact intestinal mucosa in situ was demonstrable with both Fim+ and Fim- bacteria, but Fim+ strains were preferred because they showed approximately twofold higher numbers of adhered bacteria compared to Fim- strains. Additionally, bacterial adherence to intact mucosa in situ was consistently higher in well-fed controls than in malnourished rats. Ultrastructural studies revealed marked cell destruction and lysis in malnourished rats, whereas no histological change was detected in the mucosa of control animals. These results suggest that malnutrition may lead to altered intestinal cell surfaces, thus increasing their susceptibility to infection through mechanisms that are different from adherence.
Omoike
I
I
International Institute for Infant Nutrition and Gastrointestinal Disease, Children's Hospital of Buffalo, NY 14222.
Lindquist
B
B
Abud
R
R
Merrick
J
J
Lebenthal
E
E
D000818:Animals; D001422:Bacterial Adhesion; D004044:Dietary Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004435:Eating; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D007422:Intestines / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008297:Male; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D009747:Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D009752:Nutritional Status; D011502:Protein-Energy Malnutrition / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D012486:Salmonella typhimurium / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000472:pathogenicity
D004044:Dietary Proteins