Biopsies fixed in 4% formaldehyde were embedded in
paraffin, cut at a thickness of 3 mm, and stained with hematoxylin
and eosin [27] Samples were considered
adequate for analysis when they contained at least three
villi and the subvillus lamina propria extended to the mucosa–muscularis
mucosa border as defined previously [28].
Mean number of goblet cells was counted for a stretch of 2
100 villus epithelial cells on slides derived from two
different biopsy specimens per foal. Length of duodenal
villi was determined by measuring five well-orientated villi
in two biopsy specimens per animal.