Disaccharidase deficiency associated with the intestinal phase of trichinosis in guinea pigs.

Abstract

Relatively few investigations have dealt with the pathogenesis of the intestinal phase of trichinosis. This is especially true in human infection which is usually diagnosed only after the disease has progressed into the extraintestinal stage. In guinea pigs administered graded doses of Trichinella spiralis larvae the gut phase is accompanied by diarrhea and weight loss, the intensity of which is directly dependent on the size of the worm burden (1).Interestingly, the small intestine of animals with these symptoms is characterized by histopathology similar to that reported for humans with malabsorption syndromes, and the capacity of the gut to transport glucose actively is greatly reduced (2). Since the transport of glucose is mediated through the brush border of the gut epithelium, it is probable that other physiologic functions associated with this region, including the activity of digestive enzymes such as disaccharidases (3) are adversely affected and may contribute to the clinical picture.Presently, t...