Radiologic evaluation of the liver and gastrointestinal tract in rats infected with Taenia taeniaeformis.
In rats infected with the cestode Taenia taeniaeformis, hepatomegaly results from development of parasitic cysts in the liver. Diffuse nodular mucosal hyperplasia in the glandular region (corpus and antrum) of the stomach, and gross thickening of the intestinal mucosa also result. Between postinfection days (PID) 21 and 84, radiologic observations were made after oral administration of a barium sulfate suspension in T taeniaeformis-infected rats and in age/sex-matched controls. There was radiographic evidence of hepatic enlargement at PID 21. Enlargement of the gastric folds was first observed along the greater curvature of the stomach at PID 35. Fimbriation of small intestinal mucosal surfaces resulted from thickening of the intestinal villi and was observed in the duodenum at PID 21. Intestinal motility was assessed, and contractions were counted, using image intensification fluoroscopy, then were recorded on videotape. There were no significant differences between control and infected rats for gastric emptying time, intestinal transit time, and number of intestinal contractions per minute. Barium contrast radiography clearly indicated large gastric folds, thickening of the small intestinal villi, and hepatic enlargement, and was useful for assessing gastrointestinal motility.
Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, Michigan State University, East Lansing 48824.
R L
RL
Perry
J F
JF
Williams
C B
CB
Carrig
J B
JB
Kaneene
T W
TW
Schillhorn van Veen
D000818:Animals; D003551:Cysticercosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000469:parasitology / Q000503:physiopathology; D004064:Digestive System / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D005753:Gastric Mucosa / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005769:Gastrointestinal Motility; D006529:Hepatomegaly / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008099:Liver / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000469:parasitology / Q000473:pathology; D011859:Radiography; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013997:Time Factors