Ascaris suum: Nutrient absorption, growth, and intestinal pathology in young pigs experimentally infected with 15-day-old larvae

• Published in: Experimental parasitology Vol. 49; no. 1; pp. 15 - 25
• Main Authors: Stephenson, L.S., Pond, W.G., Nesheim, M.C., Krook, L.P., Crompton, D.W.T.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01.02.1980
• Subjects: Animals; Ascariasis - metabolism; Ascariasis - pathology; Ascariasis - physiopathology; Ascariasis - veterinary; Ascaris suum; Body Weight; Fat absorption; Feed efficiency; Feeding Behavior; Intestinal Absorption; Intestinal pathology; Intestine, Small - pathology; Larva; Lipid Metabolism; Nematode; Nitrogen - metabolism; Nitrogen balance; parasitic; Swine; Swine Diseases - metabolism; Swine Diseases - pathology; Swine Diseases - physiopathology; Time Factors; Nitrogen balance; Swine; Ascaris suum; Nematode; Feed efficiency; Fat absorption; parasitic; Intestinal pathology
• ISSN: 0014-4894; 1090-2449
• DOI: 10.1016/0014-4894(80)90051-X

Three-week-old pigs on high (HP) or low (LP) protein diets were infected with 15-day-old Ascaris suum larvae (W). Including noninfected pigs (C), the experimental groups were HPW, LPW, HPC, and LPC. After 8 weeks, worm burden in the intestine averaged 42 in LPW and 31 in HPW. Nitrogen balance during Week 4 showed nonsignificantly less nitrogen absorption and retention in LPW compared to LPC. A similar, nonsignificant decrease in fat absorption was recorded in LPW vs LPC and in HPW vs HPC. The weight of the small intestine was significantly greater in W than C pigs but did not differ because of protein level. The weight correlated positively to worm burden and the increase was due mainly to hypertrophy of the tunica muscularis (muscle layers).