Intestinal lesions in specific-pathogen-free lambs associated with a cryptosporidium from calves with diarrhea

Small and large intestines of seven specific pathogen-free lambs infected with cryptosporidia from calves with diarrhea were examined by scanning and transmission electron microscopy and by light microscopy. The small intestine was infected in all the lambs, and the cecum and colon in three. Small intestinal alterations were severe villous atrophy and dilatation of the crypts of Lieberkühn. Epithelial cross-bridging between contiguous villi caused much villous fusion. Epithelial cells constituting the bridges were connected by desmosomal junctions, and were continuous with the epithelial coverings of the associated villi. The lamina propria was heavily infiltrated with neutrophil leukocytes. Infected crypts in cecum and colon were dilated and devoid of mucus-secreting cells, while the ridges between crypts were hypertrophied, and the lamina propria was infiltrated by neutrophils. Cell vegetations with adherent bacteria were present in the surface intestinal epithelium of two lambs infected for 11 and 14 days, respectively. No adherent bacteria were seen in any site in lambs killed up to six days post-inoculation.