White Scours in Piglets;II. Scanning Electron Microscopy of the Mucosa of the Small Intestine

Abstract

The mucosa of the small intestine of clinically normal piglets and of piglets with white scours was investigated, using a scanning electron microscope. No new findings on the rough villous pattern of the small intestinal mucosa could be added to those obtained with the stereomicroscope. In the high range of magnification, however, the surface of the different villous forms showed features that could barely be seen with the stereomicroscope. The findings indicate that in general the microstructure of the villous surface differs in the various types of villi.