UPPER INTESTINAL TRACT INFECTION PRODUCED BY E ACERVULINA AND ABSORPTION OF 65ZN AND 131I-LABELED OLEIC ACID

A series of trials was conducted to determine the effects of upper intestinal tract damage upon the absorption of labeled zinc and oleic acid used as examples of mineral and fatty nutrients. The protozoan parasite E. acervulina. which attacks the anterior portion of the chicken intestine, was used to produce the intestinal damage. The infection caused growth retardation on the 7th through 10th days post-inoculation and visible damage to the lining of the upper 1/3 of the intestinal tract during the period from 5 to 10 days post-inoculation. Increased absorption of orally administered 65Zn and 131I-iabeled oleic acid occurred on day 1 and from days 14 through 21 post inoculation, whereas greatly decreased absorption of both labeled nutrients was observed on days 5 through 10 post-inoculation. Both oleic acid and zinc absorption were severely and equally depressed by E. acervulina infection. This was contrasted with E. necatrix infection in which zinc absorption was much more severely affected than oleic acid absorption.