Activity of disaccharidases and dipeptidases of the intestinal mucosa of piglets during mild and severe infections with Strongyloides ransomi

Abstract

Activities of intestinal disaccharidases and dipeptidases of normal piglets and of piglets parasitized by the nematode Strongyloides ransomi were investigated. A large dose of S. ransomi caused a marked depression of activities of maltase, saccharase, lactase, trehalase and cellobiase and a slight reduction of dipeptidase activities of intestinal mucosa. The activities of intestinal disaccharidases were reduced more in animals killed on days 14 and 21 after infection, when pathological changes were maximal, than in animals killed on day 7 after infection. In mild infection there was a small fall in the mucosal disaccharidase activity, whereas dipeptidase activity was unchanged. Maltase activity in the mucosa of the caecum and colon of infected animals was slightly depressed, whereas saccharase, cellobiase, trehalase and lactase activities were unaffected.