[Density of selected enzymes in the goblet cells of the small intestine in piglets experimentally infected with the coccidium Isospora suis].

The density of selected enzymes in the goblet cells of the mucous membrane of the small intestine was studied in a group of 12 gnotobiotic piglets experimentally infected with the coccidium Isospora suis one day after parturition (DPP), using the Vickers M-786 scanning and integrating microdensity meter. At an infecting dose of 100,000 oocysts of I. suis, the histochemistry of the goblet cells of the mucous membrane of the piglets changed significantly in the period of 4 to 10 days after infection (DPI). Increases occur in the density of non-specific esterase (EC. 3.1.1.1.) and acid phosphatase (EC. 3.13.2.). The density of acid and neutral muco-substances declines and the densities of alkaline phosphatase (EC. 3.1.3.1.) and aminopeptidase M (EC. 3.4.11.2) are significantly high. The goblet cells of the mid and posterior parts of jejunum are very similar in their histochemistry in the experimentally infected gnotobiotic piglets. In the duodenum and ileum the histochemical picture of the goblet cells shows no substantial difference from the data recorded in the goblet cells of the mucous membrane of the small intestine of the four control piglets at an age of two to seven days.