Hostname: page-component-77c89778f8-rkxrd Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-07-18T13:50:39.927Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Qualitative and quantitative histochemical changes in the caecum and liver of turkeys infected with Histomonas meleagridis

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  06 April 2009

D. Wilkins
Affiliation:
Department of Pure and Applied Zoology, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT
D. L. Lee
Affiliation:
Department of Pure and Applied Zoology, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT

Summary

Changes in the amount and distribution of acid and alkaline phosphatase, non-specific esterase, glycogen, lipid and acid mucopolysaccharide in the caecal wall and liver of turkey poults infected with Histomonas meleagridis have been studied histochemically. A microdensitometer was used to measure changes in activity and distribution of acid phosphatase and non-specific esterase in the caecal mucosa. During the course of the infection there is a marked reduction in activity and distribution of acid phosphatase and non-specific esterase but little change in the amounts and distribution of alkaline phosphatase, glycogen, lipid and acid mucopolysaccharide in the wall of the main part of the caecum. Similar, but smaller, changes occurred in the wall of the neck region of the caecum. In the liver most changes occurred in the immediate vicinity of the parasites. Initially, there was a reduction in the amount of glycogen in the parasitic lesions but later in the infection there was a marked loss of glycogen in all regions of the liver. Changes in the caecum are apparently brought about by the parasite prior to and after invasion of the caecal tissues; changes in the liver occur after it has been invaded.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1976

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

Beg, M. K. & Clabkson, M.J. (1970). Serum enzymes in histomoniasis in the turkey. Journal of Comparative Pathology 80, 415–8.Google Scholar
Bell, D. J. (1971). Plasma enzymes. In Physiology and Biochemistry of the Domestic Fowl, vol. 2 (ed. Bell, D. J. and Freeman, B. M.). London, New York: Academic Press.Google Scholar
Carrera, G. M. (1950). Acid phosphatase activity in the intestinal wall in experimental amebic colitis. Proceedings of the Society for Experimental Biology and Medicine 73, 682.Google Scholar
Carrera, G. M. & Changus, G. W. (1948). Demonstration of acid phosphatase in Entamoeba histolytica. Proceedings of the Society for Experimental Biology and Medicine 68, 610.Google Scholar
Clarkson, M. J. (1962). The progressive pathology of Heterokis-produced histomoniasis in turkeys. Research in Veterinary Science 3, 443–8.Google Scholar
Coop, R. L. & Angus, K. W. (1973). The effect of continuous doses of Trichostrongylus colubriformis larvae on serum electrolytes and intestinal enzyme activity in sheep. Proceedings of the British Society for Parasitology, Parasitology 67, v–vi.Google Scholar
Cox, R. P. & Griffin, M. J. (1965). Pyrophosphatase activity of mammalian alkaline phosphatase. Lancet ii, 1018–9.Google Scholar
Farmer, R. K., Hughes, D. L. & Whiting, G. (1951). Infectious enterohepatitis (blackhead) in turkeys: a study of the pathology of the artificially induced disease. Journal of Comparative Pathology 61, 251–62.Google Scholar
Lee, D. L., Long, P., Millard, B. J. & Bradley, J. (1969). The fine structure and method of feeding of the tissue-parasitizing stages of Histomonas meleagridis. Parasitology 59, 171–84.Google Scholar
Moss, D. W., Eaton, R. H., Smith, J. K. & Whiting, L. G. (1966). Association of pryo-phosphate activity with human alkaline phosphatase preparations. Biochemical Journal 99, 19P20 P.Google Scholar
McDougald, L. R. & Hansen, M. F. (1970). Histomonas meleagridis: effect on plasma enzymes in chickens and turkeys. Experimental Parasitology 27, 229–35.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Michael, E. & Hodges, R. D. (1973). Enzyme cytochemical observations on the tissue stages of the life cycle of Eimeria acervulina and Eimeria necatrix. International Journal for Parasitology 3, 681–90.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Pandey, V. C., Dutta, G. P. & Mohan Rao, V. K. (1973). Alkaline and acid phosphatase in the intestines of rats infected with a virulent strain of Entamoeba histolytica and treated with Emetine and Flagyl. Experimental Parasitology 33, 114–9.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Pearse, A. G. E. (1968;1972). Histochemistry: Theoretical and Applied, 3rd ed., vols. I and II. London: Churchill.Google Scholar
Senaud, J., Mehlhorn, H. & Scholtyseck, E. (1972). Cytochemische Untersuchungen an Cystenstadien von Besnoitia jellisoni. Elektronen mikroskopischer Nachweis von saurer phosphatase und Polysaccharides. Zeitschrift fur Parasitenkunde 40, 165–76.Google Scholar
Wilkins, D. M. & Lee, D. L. (1974). Scanning electron microscopy of the caecal mucosa of turkeys infected with Histomonas meleagridis. Journal of Comparative Pathology 84, 589–97.Google Scholar