Parasite establishment was elevated in mice fed 20 % pectin, but was unaffected by cellulose concentration.
Effects of differing purified cellulose, pectin and hemicellulose fiber diets on mucosal morphology in the rat small and large intestine.
Thus, increasing concentrations of pectin and cellulose could also be advantageous to the survival and reproduction of the parasite if intestinal morphology responds similarly in infected mice.
Yet this pattern was not observed in vivo, where per capita egg production peaked at the 10 % pectin concentration, but was very low in mice fed 20 % pectin.
Site specific changes in pectin esterification may facilitate cell wall folding during desiccation.
We suggest that pectin promoted parasite establishment through effects on bile sequestration in the lumen.
Water-soluble fibre (pectin) or water-insoluble fibre (cellulose) was added to the diet separately at 5, 10 and 20 % levels.
Two classes of fibre exist : cellulose and lignins comprise the insoluble fraction while pectin, guar gum and hemicellulose form the soluble fraction.
