The route of migration of Eimeria stiedae (Lindemann, 1865) sporozoites between the duodenum and bile ducts of the rabbit

Abstract

Young rabbits were infected by mouth with sporulated Eimeria stiedae oocysts and killed at 1, 3, 5, 8, 12, 16, 24, 30, 48, 54, 72, 84, and 96 h after infection. Sporozoites were found in the lamina propria of the duodenum between 5 and 8 h after infection. Sporozoites were present in the mesenteric lymph nodes, both free and within lymphatic monocytes at between 12 and 84 h after infection. No sporozoites were observed in duodenal portal blood. These observations provide morphological evidence compatible with a lymphatic route of migration between duodenum and mesenteric lymph nodes, probably within lymphatic monocytes. The route to the bile duct epithelium is discussed and a subsequent migration in the portal blood suggested.I wish to express my gratitude to Dr D. F. Kelly of the School of Veterinary Medicine, Cambridge, for his guidance and constructive criticism, and to Dr Elaine Rose of the Houghton Poultry Research Station, St Ives, for her invaluable advice on technical problems and for donating the oocysts for the study. I should also like to thank Dr E. A. Pierce of the Department of Animal Physiology, Babraham, and Mr P. Long of Houghton for their advice.This study was carried out as a Research Project during the Natural Sciences Tripos, Part II Pathology course 1965, in the Department of Pathology, Cambridge.