Effect of Coccidial Infection Upon Passage Rates of Digestive Tract Contents of Chicks

Abstract

CHANGES in the rate of passage of nutrients through the digestive tract may affect the amount of nutrients absorbed by altering the period of time during which digestion and absorption take place. These effects, then, could provide a partial explanation of the effects of various coccidial infections upon nutrient absorption as reported by Turk and Stephens (1966, 1967a, b, c). Schildt and Herrick (1955) have observed stasis of the gut occurring during the period of severe Eimeria tenella infections. An earlier report (Levine and Herrick, 1954) described an impairment of skeletal muscle responses to stimuli during the severe stages of this infection. If the stasis and impairment of motility resulted in significantly slower rates of food passage through the gastrointestinal tract, more time would be allowed for more complete digestion of food materials and for more complete absorption of nutrients from the gut into the bloodstream. Since nutrient absorption rates . . .