In the present study the intestinal mucosa showed
alterations in villous architecture, formation of shallow
grooves and along filamentous bacteria also were
observed. This runs in full agreement with Martin and
Holland [13] who examined the intestinal morphology
of rats given cysticercoids of H. diminuta by SEM.
They found that the presence of this tapeworm cause
extensive villous atrophy and fusion. The most extreme
changes in mucosal architecture were observed adjacent
to the mature proglottides of the worm. Bacterial over
growth of the small intestine has occasionally been
reported [24] but the factors influencing this change in
habitat are not fully understood. Tannouk and Savage
[25] suggested that dietary conditions and stress may
affect bacterial colonization of the intestinal tract. Mettrick
[26] and Smyth [27] showed that H. diminuta has a high
rate of carbohydrate fermentation, which leads to the
release of several acids, including lactic acid and it is
possible that the presence of these substances may alter
the physiochemical conditions along the intestine and
thus facilitate colonization of the more anterior regions of
the gut by these microorganisms. Gross alterations of
intestinal mucosa ha observed in association with many
nematode parasites. Nippostrongylus brasiliensis in rats
[28,29], Trichinella spiralis in guinea pigs [30] and
Ascaris lumbricoides in man [31] all cause varying
degrees of villous atrophy and fusion. Flattening of
the villous surface has also been observed in mice
harboring H. microstoma [32].