Strains of Candida albicans isolated from the duodenum of infants with acute gastro-enteritis were inoculated into ligated segments of small intestine of infant rabbits. Twenty hours later, the lactase activity in the mucosa of these segments was compared with the lactase activity in similar segments into which sterile broth had been inoculated. Analysis of the results from 25 matched pairs of loops showed a statistically significant decrease in lactase activity in the loops that had received C. albicans. We suggest that the depression of lactase activity observed in infants with gastro-enteritis may be caused or perpetuated by the growth of C. albicans in the duodenum.
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