[Alkaline phosphatase activity in goblet cells in the small intestine of piglets experimentally infected with the coccidium Isospora suis].

Alkaline phosphatase activity (EC. 3.1.3.1.) in goblet cells was investigated in the small intestine of 16 gnotobiotic piglets infected one day after delivery (DAD) by different rates of oocysts of Isospora suis coccidia. At a high infection rate of I. suis (750,000) the goblet cells were found to be highly positive to alkaline phosphatase on day 3 to day 4 after infection (DAI). In piglets infected by a low infection rate of I. suis oocysts (100,000) the activity of alkaline phosphatase activity in goblet cells was proved on days 4 to 10 after infection. In the first group of piglets, the positive goblet cells prevailed in the middle region of jejunum, with the peak on 4th DAI. It the second group of piglets a marked increase in the alkaline phosphatase activity was recorded in the goblet cells in the posterior part of jejunum on days 4 to 5 after infection and on 10th DAI. No alkaline phosphatase activity in the goblet cells was demonstrated in the control gnotobiotic piglets at the age of two to seven days.