Bacillus cereus-induced malabsorption in young mice

Following a single, oral dose of Bacillus cereus (2 X 10(8) bacteria) in vitro intestinal absorption of D-glucose, D-galactose, L-arginine, L-histidine, L-ornithine and L-proline in young mice (aged 2--3 1/2 months) decreased. Malabsorption of D-glucose was dose- and time-dependent. Impaired absorption of D-glucose occurred throughtout the length of the small intestine, particularly distally. Following hydrolysis of D-maltose at the brush border, D-glucose absorption in infected mice and that of the untreated controls was similar. Using D-glucose, fluid transfer in the infected intestine and that of the controls was alike. Although slightly lower, fluid transfer in the infected intestine using the other solutes was not significantly different compared with the controls. Glucose-dependent and glucose-independent intestinal fluid transfer in infected animals was like that of the controls. Using old infected mice (aged 8--9 months) intestinal absorption of D-glucose and L-histidine was unchanged compared with young mice. The fresh small intestinal weight in infected mice and the controls was alike. Changes in the histology of the small intestine in young infected mice were small and inconsistent.