[Ultrastructure of the small intestine mucosa of gnotobiotic rats with a Vibrio cholerae carrier state].

Ultrastructure of the small intestinal mucosa of gnotobiotic rats, carriers of Vibrio eltor or V. Cholerae was studied. The cytoplasm of enterocytes manifested an increased number of lysosome-like structures and hypertrophy of the Golgi complex. Unlike V. eltor, V. cholerae induced more intensive extrusion of enterocytes and appreciable infiltration of the epithelial layer with lymphocytes. It is concluded that chronic vibrio-carrier state in gnotobiotic rats is not associated with pathological alterations.