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. 2008 Mar 25;152(1-2):53-9.
doi: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2007.11.020. Epub 2007 Dec 4.

Effect of Cryptosporidium parvum infection on the absorptive capacity and paracellular permeability of the small intestine in neonatal calves

Pavel Klein  1 , Tereza Kleinová, Zdenek Volek, Jirí Simůnek
Affiliations

Effect of Cryptosporidium parvum infection on the absorptive capacity and paracellular permeability of the small intestine in neonatal calves

Pavel Klein et al. Vet Parasitol. .

Abstract

Cryptosporidium parvum is recognized as one of the most important pathogens causing enteritis and severe diarrhoea in calves up to 1 month of age. Although the infection may be responsible for some mortality, its impact is mainly associated with the impairment of intestinal functions and lower performance of animals. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of cryptosporidiosis on the intestinal functions in neonatal experimentally infected Holstein calves. Absorption tests with d-xylose and retinyl-palmitate, and the lactulose/mannitol test of intestinal permeability were simultaneously performed in 1-week intervals from challenge to full recovery. In infected animals, reduced intestinal absorptive capacity for both D-xylose and retinyl-palmitate was observed on day 7 post-infection (p.i.). At the same time, a more than 100% elevation of intestinal permeability was observed in the infected calves. All intestinal functions, except absorption of retinyl-palmitate, were significantly affected and changes were detected up to day 14 p.i. In contrast, results of all tests obtained on day 21 p.i. suggest full recovery of the infected intestine. Significantly, growth of the calves which had recovered from cryptosporidiosis was still affected between days 14 and 21 p.i.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Plasma concentration of d-xylose in Cryptosporidium parvum inoculated and control calves on the day of infection and on day 7 p.i.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Plasma concentration of d-xylose in C. parvum inoculated and control calves on the days 14 and 21 p.i.
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Plasma concentration of vitamin A in C. parvum inoculated and control calves on the day of infection and day 7 p.i.
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Plasma concentration of vitamin A in C. parvum inoculated and control calves on days 14 and 21 p.i.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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