Abstract
The topography of the mucosal surface of the caecum of uninfected turkey poults, and of poults infected with Histomonas meleagridis, has been studied using the scanning electron microscope. The neck region of the caecum of the uninfected poult possesses numerous conical or spatulate villi, which are similar in appearance to those found in the posterior part of the intestine of this bird, and to the villi found in the mammalian intestine. The main part, consisting of two-thirds of the caecum, has a surface which is raised into longitudinal ridges. In poults which are infected with H. meleagridis there is a gradual flattening of the ridges in the main part of the caecum and by 10 days after infection the ridges have completely disappeared, leaving the mouths of the crypts of Lieberkühn exposed. There is little or no change in the topography of the neck region of the caecum. Counts of dividing cells in both regions show that there is no reduction in number in the neck region, but in the main part of the caecum there is a marked reduction in the number of dividing cells. These changes are discussed in relation to similar changes which occur in some other diseases of the alimentary tract of other animals, including man.
Published Version
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