D-xylose absorption as a measurement of malabsorption in poult enteritis and mortality syndrome

Severe wasting of body tissues, diarrhea, high morbidity and mortality, and stunting are all characteristics of poult enteritis and mortality syndrome (PEMS). The wasting of musculature and loss of nearly all adipose tissue s uggested that even though the PEMS-infected poults were eating some feed, n utrient intake was not sufficient to meet body requirements for maintenance and growth. Because epithelial cells in the gastrointestinal tract appeare d to be a target of the undefined etiological agent (or agents) that causes PEMS, a study was conducted in which PEMS-infected poults were evaluated f or malabsorption through 3 wk of age. D-Xylose, a poorly metabolized pentos e, was given per os as a bolus, and blood samples were obtained from the ul nar vein in the wing of control and PEMS-infected poults over a 3-h period to estimate intestinal absorption. D-Xylose absorption in control poults pe aked 30 to GO min after the oral treatment, similar to results reported ear lier. The PEMS-infected poults did not show a peak in absorption. The PEMS- infected poults showed significant delays in D-xylose absorption at 4, 7, a nd 11 d after PEMS challenge. The severe malabsorption and metabolic defici ency problem associated with PEMS was postulated to be a direct effect of t he undefined infectious agent or agents that cause the disease.