Large-scale survey of the prevalence of Eimeria infections in domestic rabbits in China

Abstract

The current study examined the prevalence of Eimeria infections in domestic rabbits in China. A total of 480 faecal samples were collected from 48 farms in 14 provinces of China. Each faecal sample was subjected to oocyst counting and oocyst isolation. The Eimeria species from samples containing isolated and sporulated oocysts were morphologically identified under microscope. The overall prevalence of infections was 41.9% (201/480). Northwest China had the highest prevalence (70%), followed closely by Northeast China (65%) and Southwest China (62.5%). The prevalences in North China (34%) and South China (25.8%) were significantly lower. The large and medium farms had lower prevalences (34.2% and 37.2%, respectively) than the small farms (61.4%). Coccidian oocysts were found in 42.2% (76/180) of faecal samples from meat rabbits, 40% (28/70) from angora rabbits and 44.7% (85/190) from Rex rabbit. In total, ten species of Eimeria were identified from oocyst-positive samples. Concurrent infection with two to eight Eimeria species was found. E. perforans was the most prevalent species (35.2%), followed in order by E. media, E. magna, E. irresidua and E. intestinalis with prevalences of 31.3%, 28.8%, 19.4%, and 14.8%, respectively. Taken together, These results reveal the characteristics of the prevelance of rabbit coccidia infection in China, including the distribution, the scale of farming and the species, which are indispensable to the control of rabbits coccidiosis in China.

Prevalence of Intestinal Parasites in Hamsters and Rabbits in Some Pet Shops of Turkey

“…Eimeria species are also frequently observed both in pets (7) and in other domestic rabbits (19). Similarly, Eimeria spp.…”

Transgenic Eimeria magna Pérard, 1925 Displays Similar Parasitological Properties to the Wild-type Strain and Induces an Exogenous Protein-Specific Immune Response in Rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus L.)

“…Eimeria magna is a common species of rabbit coccidia often found in great numbers on rabbit farms (11). It locates in the small intestine and produces a moderate pathogenicity and immunogenic response in rabbits (12, 13).…”

Simultaneous identification of three highly pathogenic Eimeria species in rabbits using a multiplex PCR diagnostic assay based on ITS1-5.8S rRNA-ITS2 fragments

“…species in rabbits, which is based on a set of morphological features, is time-consuming and inefficient (Long and Joyner, 1984;Jing et al, 2012). For this reason, molecular assays have been introduced to supplement morphological identification (Hunt, 2011).…”

“…Among 11 valid Eimeria species, E. stiedai, E. intestinalis, and E. flavescens are highly pathogenic in rabbits, especially before the age of 3 months (Taylor et al, 2007;Licois, 2009;Pakandl, 2009). Some of the three highly pathogenic species always prove to be dominant in rabbit farms (Pakandl, 2009;Yan et al, 2010;Jing et al, 2012). For this reason, we should focus on developing and validating an effective test to detect and control these infections in farmed rabbits.…”