Nutritional aspects of Ascaris infection in young protein-deficient pigs

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Abstract
Experiments were carried out to investigate the effects of Ascaris suum infection on the growth, food intake, nitrogen and fat utilization and intestinal function of young pigs receiving diets low in protein. An infection procedure was developed which provided relatively uniform and heavy infections in pigs under study. Ascaris-infected pigs showed statistically significant reduction in growth rate and food intake compared to uninfected controls. The reduction in growth rate was observed after the A. suum were mature and eggs were observed in the faeces of pigs. The degree of growth retardation was significantly correlated with worm burden. Infected pigs showed no consistent reduction in nitrogen and total solids digestibility compared to controls but fat digestion was reduced. The infected pigs showed reduced nitrogen retention compared to uninfected controls. Ascaris-infected pigs had heavier intestinal tracts with increased size of the tunica muscularis. Lactase activity in mucosa from infected pigs was significantly lower than in controls, whereas no consistent effect was observed in mucosal sucrase and maltase activity. When Ascaris-infected pigs were given an oral lactose load, blood glucose levels rose less than in control pigs, suggesting that the infection resulted in impaired lactose tolerance.