Tapeworm infection decreases intestinal transit and enteric aerobic bacterial populations. Am J Physiol 1997 Aug;273(2 Pt 1):G480-5
Date
08/01/1997Pubmed ID
9277428DOI
10.1152/ajpgi.1997.273.2.G480Scopus ID
2-s2.0-0030826981 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site) 36 CitationsAbstract
Intestinal myoelectric patterns in rats are altered after chronic luminal infection with the tapeworm Hymenolepis diminuta. This study evaluates whether these altered patterns were associated with changes in intestinal fluid transit and endogenous enteric microbe levels. Luminal transit, measured throughout the small intestine during the interdigestive state, was significantly decreased during tapeworm infection. Reduced transit was regional, occurring in the same location as that of the tapeworm and maximal myoelectric alterations. In other experimental systems, aerobic and anaerobic bacterial overgrowth is associated with decreased transit; however, reduced transit during tapeworm infection was unexpectedly associated with decreased numbers of aerobic bacteria, whereas anaerobic bacterial populations remained unchanged. The lack of overgrowing endogenous microflora suggests that overgrowth is not responsible for tapeworm-stimulated alterations in host myoelectric patterns. We speculate that a tapeworm secretion could be responsible for both transit and motility changes while delayed intestinal transit could prevent tapeworm expulsion, aid the tapeworms' migration, and contribute to the digestion and absorption of nutrients by hosts and/or parasites.
Author List
Dwinell MB, Bass P, Schaefer DM, Oaks JAAuthor
Michael B. Dwinell PhD Director, Professor in the Microbiology and Immunology department at Medical College of WisconsinMESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold
AnimalsBacteria, Aerobic
Bacteria, Anaerobic
Cestode Infections
Colony Count, Microbial
Gastrointestinal Transit
Intestines
Male
Rats
Rats, Sprague-Dawley
