Prevalence, pathology and treatment of coccidiosis in rabbits
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Date
2002
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Department of Veterinary Parasitology, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy
Abstract
A detailed study on the prevalence, pathology and treatment of coccidial
infections in rabbits belonging to all age groups, breeds and sex was undertaken
at the Rabbit Research Station, Mannuthy and at six local rabbi tries in and
around Thrissur during the period from October 2001 to September 2002. The
overall prevalence was observed as 18.54 per cent. The prevalence of
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coccidiosis was found to be high in young rabbits below three months and in
female rabbits ofNew Zealand Whiteduring the months of heavy rainfall. The
infection was diagnosed by the microscopical examination of faecal samples
and clinical signs which included diarrhoea, soiled fur, anorexia and loss of
condition. Subclinically affected rabbits showed no apparent signs except
growth retardation and reduced feed intake.
Six eimerian species causing coccidial infections in rabbits were
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identified. Mixed infections were common and the commonly encountered
species were E. magna, E. perforans and E. media. They were found as
Eimeria media (80 per cent), E. magna (86 per cent), E. perforans (86 per cent),
E. coecicola (50 per cent), E. jlavescens (15 per cent) and E. piriformis (8 per
cent).
Gross lesions found in the dead rabbits brought for postmortem at the
Centre of Excellence in Pathology, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences,
Mannuthy comprised of oedematous, thickened intestine with circumscribed
greyish white foci on the mucosa.
Histopathological examination of the intestine revealed characteristic
lesions of intestinal coccidiosis with schizonts and gametogonic stages in the
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epithelium of the intestine. Active inflammatory reaction with mononuclear
infiltration was noted. The tips of villi showed necrotic changes and
desquamation of epithelial cells resulted in villous atrophy.
Haematological studies of infected animals revealed reduction in the
values of PCV, Hb and erythrocyte count and a slight increase in leucocyte
count when compared to the apparently healthy animals.
Therapeutic trials against rabbit coccidiosis usmg drugs like
sulphadimidine sodium (200 mg per kg body weight for three days),
furazolidone (10 mg per kg body weight for five days) and metronidazole (40
mg per kg body weight for three days) orally, showed sulphadimidine sodium
as the drug of choice. The other two drugs did not give satisfactory results.
The mean clearance values of the three drugs were 99.68 per cent, 85.48 per
cent and 69.92 per cent respectively.
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PG
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Citation
172067