Eimeria (E.) stiedae is a protozoan parasite causing hepatic coccidiosis in rabbits. It mostly infects younger animals and causes nonspecific signs like stunted growth, weakness, dehydration, diarrhea and anorexia. Macroscopically, the liver has a typical appearance. It is enlarged, showing firm yellow-white lesions on the surface. These lesions are enlarged bile ducts filled with bile and necrotic debris. Although all diagnostic tools for hepatic coccidiosis in live animals are currently impracticable or inconclusive, ultrasound might be useful for the diagnosis of hepatic coccidiosis. However, the appearance of liver changes associated with E. stiedae on ultrasonography has poorly been described in the literature. In this study, ex-vivo ultrasound of 24 livers was performed, i.e. the livers of two healthy rabbits and 22 livers of rabbits with suspected liver coccidiosis. Hyperechoic lesions of variable size and shape were found in all affected livers. In some of these livers, other signs of hepatic disease were detected: heterogenous liver parenchyma, appearance of hepatomegaly with round edges, gallbladder sludge and thickening of the gallbladder wall.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
customersupport@researchsolutions.com
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.