title: Histopathology of the small intestinal mucosa in Nematodirus spathiger infection in rabbits.
abstract: Rabbits were experimentally infected with two levels (5000 and 17,000) infective larvae of Nematodirus spathiger. Histological (villus length, mucosa to serosa ratio, crypt surface) and biochemical (protein content, alkaline phosphatase and leucine aminopeptidase activities) measurements relating to the small intestinal mucosa were examined along the entire length of the organ. In the proximal intestine, the presence of worms was associated with villus abrasion, increased crypt surface and decreased alkaline phosphatase and leucine aminopeptidase activities. Conversely, beyond the main site of infection in the distal small intestine, some signs of hypertrophied villi and crypts were noted without any changes in enzyme activities. These distal variations were similar to those previously described in experimental Trichostrongylus colubriformis infections of rabbits. These results tend to confirm the use of the rabbit as an experimental model to study Nematodirus infection. They also suggest that the distal adaptive process in the nematode-parasitized small intestine could occur independently of the worm species.
authors.affiliation: INRA - Centre de Recherches de Tours, Nouzilly, France.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hoste
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mallet
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Fort
mesh_terms: D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase / Q000032:analysis; D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology; D007421:Intestine, Small / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology*; D007931:Leucyl Aminopeptidase / Q000032:analysis; D008297:Male; D011817:Rabbits / Q000469:parasitology*; D011897:Random Allocation; D012756:Sheep; D012757:Sheep Diseases / Q000473:pathology*; D014252:Trichostrongyloidiasis / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*
chemical_list: D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase; D007931:Leucyl Aminopeptidase