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The in vivo absorption of 14C-labelled amino-acids and the leakage of radioactive plasma proteins into the gut of infected birds were measured together with their food-intake and growth. The results suggested that anorexia and protein leakage from the gut are major factors in the pathogenesis of E. acervulina infection.

In vitro uptake of L. histidine by intestinal tissue from chicks infected with E. acervulina was slightly reduced. This was confirmed using radio-actively labelled mixed amino-acid substrates in the form of a Chlorella protein hydrolysate.