Figure 3.

Histological photomicrographs of small intestinal sections (stained with H&E, unless mentioned otherwise, 200×). (a) Sections from normal mice (GI) displayed the normal structure of the villi with a preserved brush border and normal pattern of mucin secretion. (b) Sections from infected mice (GII) revealed a significant broadening of villi (red line), dense infiltration by mononuclear inflammatory cells (yellow arrows), and villous tip-region degeneration (green arrows). (c) Sections from infected mice (GII) revealed numerous adherent (green arrow) and separate cryptosporidium oocysts (red arrow, H&E stain, stained purple, 4–6 µm in diameter, 1000×). (d) Sections from infected mice (GIII) treated with the reference drug (NTZ) demonstrated mild villi broadening with focal tip-region degeneration and mild mononuclear inflammatory cell infiltration. (e) Sections from infected mice (GIV) treated with H. hemistemon extract (100 mg/kg) demonstrated moderate villous broadening (red line), infiltration by mononuclear inflammatory cells (yellow arrow), and focal degeneration of the villous tip regions (green arrow). (f) Sections from infected mice (GV) treated with H. hemistemon extract (200 mg/kg) showed a retained villous architecture, such as the recovery of an almost normal villous pattern with the occasional appearance of inflammatory cells.