Prevalance, Oocyct Output and Pathological Changes Associated With Eimeriosis in Caged Rabbits

Abstract

Three hundred and  twenty  five  caged  rabbits  comprising  56 kittens, 83 weaners, 74 grower s and 112 adults were screened for coccidia  oocysts  using  McMaster  technique.  Pathological changes and correlation between age and oocyst output were also evaluated. The overall prevalence of infection was 72.9%.  The prevalence was significantly higher (p<0.001) in weaners (97.6%) and growers (89.2%) than in adults (53.6%) and kittens (51.8%). The mean oocyst outputs per gram of feaces were highest in growers (38970) and weaners (33590) and lowest in adults (4280) and kittens (6820). Generally oocyst outputs decreased with age. The major gross pathological lesions were thickening of intestinal walls, congestion of serosal vessels and accumulation of brownish mucus in the intestines with ecchymotic and petechial haemorrhages on the mucosa. Histologically the small intestine showed attenuation of surface epithelium and desquamation of tips of villi. The most common Eimeria species found in infected animals were E. media, (32.3%) and E. perforans (28.7%). Others were E. periformis (13.3%), E. magna (10.9), E. stiedae (7.9%), E. fl.avescens (4.7%) and E. intestinalis (2.2%).