Degeneration of the mucosal surface of the small intestine of the chicken in Salmonella infection.

Day-old chicks were infected with Salmonella typhimurium. The impact on the intestinal mucosa was observed by scanning and transmission electron microscopy. Salmonella infected birds were characterized as having areas on their intestinal mucosal cells devoid of microvilli. The absence of microvilli probably interferes with absorption of the digesta.