Pathophysiology of nematode infections

• Published in: International journal for parasitology Vol. 17; no. 2; pp. 443 - 451
• Main Author: Holmes, P.H.
• Format: Journal Article Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 01.02.1987; Elsevier Science
• Subjects: Animals; Biological and medical sciences; Digestion; Diseases caused by nematodes; Eating; Energy Metabolism; Gastrointestinal Motility; Helminthic diseases; Infectious diseases; Intestinal Absorption; Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic - physiopathology; Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic - veterinary; Medical sciences; Minerals - metabolism; Miscellaneous; Nematode Infections - physiopathology; Nematode Infections - veterinary; Parasitic diseases; Proteins - metabolism; Ruminants - parasitology; Tropical medicine; Water-Electrolyte Balance; Human; Energy metabolism; Motility; Immune response; Digestive system; Metabolism; Helminthiasis; Physiopathology; Infection; Proteins; Nematod disease; Modulation; Helmintha; Nemathelminthia; Invertebrata; Nematoda
• ISSN: 0020-7519; 1879-0135
• DOI: 10.1016/0020-7519(87)90120-2

Gastrointestinal nematodes are a major cause of reduced productivity in ruminants. An important feature of such infections is reduced feed intake, the aetiology of which remains uncertain. Alterations in gastrointestinal motility and digesta flow may be partially responsible for the inappetance as well as being associated with the occurrence of diarrhoea. However, digestion and absorption are, in general, not significantly impaired. The other distinctive feature of gastrointestinal parasitism is loss of proteins into the gastrointestinal tract and resultant changes in host metabolism account for much of the reduced protein and energy retention by infected animals. Mineral metabolism and water and electrolyte balance are also frequently disturbed. These pathophysiological effects may be modulated by a number of factors, including the nutritional and immunological status of the host. Details of the precise mechanisms involved in these interactions and several other aspects of the pathophysiology of nematode infections still require investigation.