[Alkaline phosphatase activity levels during infection with the coccidia Isospora suis in piglets]

The activity of alkaline phosphatase (EC 3.1.3.1.) was studied in the small intestines of piglets infected with the coccidia Isospora suis on the first and fifth day of age. Alkaline phosphatase activity is reduced significantly the third to fourth day after infection (DAI) throughout the small intestine in piglets infected on the fifth day of age. Similar results were obtained in the piglets killed the eighth to tenth DAI which had also been infected on the fifth day of their age. Piglets infected the first day of age and killed on the 8th to 13th DAI exhibited no larger differences from the above-mentioned groups, but alkaline phosphatase activity was distributed more regularly all over the surface of the villi. The normal values, comparable with the controls, were not obtained within 13 days after infection (piglet age 14 days).