Eimeria organisms develop in the epithelial cells of equine small intestine.

This research study explores how Eimeria organisms, a type of parasite, infect the epithelial cells in the small intestine in foals, leading to disease.

Study Methodology

• Five foal intestine samples were collected and subjected to histopathologic and immunohistochemical examinations.
• The goal was to identify the type of cells which Eimeria parasites infect.
• The researchers looked for the presence of Eimeria organisms at multiple stages of their lifecycle in the epithelial cells of the equine small intestine.

Findings

• Eimeria organisms were frequently found in the hypertrophied host cells located in the lamina propria at the tips of the intestinal villi of the jejunum and ileum.
• The infected host cells’ cytoplasm tested positive for cytokeratins AE1/AE3 and cytokeratin 13, indicating that the host cells were epithelial.
• The same cytoplasm tested negative for vimentin, desmin, alpha-smooth muscle actin, chromogranin A, neuron-specific enolase, and factor VIII, suggesting that they were not mesenchymal cells, endothelial cells of lacteals or capillaries, smooth muscle cells, or neuroendocrine cells.

Research Conclusion

• The research concluded that Eimeria parasites infect the epithelial cells in the foal’s small intestines.
• These cells then become displaced into the lamina propria of the small intestine.
• This provides possible insights into the lifecycle and host interactions of Eimeria parasites, which could contribute to future strategies for prevention and treatment.