Prevalence of coccidian infection in rabbit farms in North Algeria

Abstract

Aim:The aim of the present study was to determine the prevalence and intensity of rabbit coccidiosis (Oryctolagus cuniculus) in North Algeria.Materials and Methods:During the study, 40 rabbit farms were investigated. The farms are located in the provinces of Tizi Ouzou, Médéa, and Djelfa which distributed, respectively, into three regions: East Tell Atlas Mountains, Central Tell Atlas Mountains, and High Plateaus. The number of oocyst per gram of feces (OPG) was determined by McMaster technique, and the Eimeria species were identified using morphological criteria.Results:In the farms investigated, the prevalence of coccidian infection was estimated to 90% (80.7-99.3%) in rabbits after weaning. The classification of the farms according to their parasite load allowed us to show that 37.5% of the prospective farms have an oocyst excretion between 104 and 5×104 oocysts per gram and 22.5% excrete >5×104 oocysts per gram. Excretion levels by region show that the region of East Tel Atlas Mountains ranks first with 79% of farms with a parasitic load >104 coccidians compared to the regions of Central Tel Atlas Mountains and High Plateaus. In total, eight species of Eimeria were identified from oocyst-positive samples. Mixed infections with four Eimeria species were common. E. magna is the dominant species in comparison with E. media and E. irresidua with respective frequencies of 42.5% and 17.6% and 14.9% (p<0.001). Our results showed that the farms using anticoccidial drugs for their rabbits were low (25%) and the percentage of farms with poor hygienic conditions was 65%. There was a significant association between increased oocysts excretion and control measures of coccidian infection.Conclusion:The study revealed an overall prevalence of 90% in the three Algerian regions. A strong association was observed between Eimeria infection and hygienic status and preventional chemotherapy.

Prevalence of Rabbit Coccidia in Medea Province, Algeria.

“…As reported previously, the natural infections with a single Eimeria species are rare (Abdel-Baki and Al-Quraishy, 2013; Jing et al, 2012). The prevalence of E. magna in Medea province was convergent to the reported by Henneb and Aissi (2013) in Eastern Algeria and Maziz-Bettahar et al (2018) in Northern Algeria (47.6% versus 43% and 42.5% respectively) which could be due to poor hygiene noticed in Algeria's farms (Henneb and Aissi, 2013). Gonzalez-Redondo et al (2008) confirmed that a fair control of hygienic conditions is sufficient to maintain a low level of coccidia and also Schlolaut et al (2013) indicated that housing conditions could have an impact on health of rabbits.…”

“…The site of infection and clinical signs can also guide the identification of coccidian species (Pakandl et al, 2008). In Algeria, the epidemiological situation of rabbit coccidiosis is almost unknown, Henneb and Aissi (2013) reported the prevalence of coccidia in Eastern Algeria rabbit breeding: Eimeria magna (43%), Eimeria stiedae (23%), Eimeria media (19%), Eimeria perforans (9%), Eimeria exigua (3%) and Eimeria coecicola (3%) and Maziz-Bettahar et al (2018) reported the prevalence of rabbit coccidial infection in three regions in the north of Algeria: Eimeria magna (42.5%), Eimeria media (17.6%) and Eimeria irresidua (14.9%).…”

Development of Preventing Means for Rabbits’ Coccidiosis

“…The high vitality of cysts and oocysts of potozoa, eggs and larva of helminthes, ticks and insects and also their ability to survive after the contact with chemical substances in concentrations and expositions, destructive for pathogenic microorganisms, is a serious problem in the fight against invasive diseases of animals and humans. The stableness degree of oocysts of eimeria of pigs, ruminants, rabbits and poultry relates to the group of high-stable agents of parasitosis [3,4].…”

The Study of Effectiveness of Coccidiosis Prophylaxis in Young Rabbits

“…On the sixteenth day, the indicator of urea in the blood serum of infected rabbits continued to increase and was 6,5 times higher, comparing to the healthy rabbits. That provides evidence of hepatorenal syndrome and impaired renal filtration [3]. Resistance of the simplest Eimeria to the acidifier "Kronocid-L" in a concentration of 0,10-0,15 l per ton of water occurred in young rabbits under investigation after the preparation was repeatedly used for prophylaxis.…”

“…The results of the biochemical analysis of the blood of experimental rabbits are given in Table 2. Albumin, g / l 39,1 ± 0,72 33,6 ±1,01 2) 29,9 ±1,52 3) 24,5 ±0,75 3) 21,7 ±0,67 3) Thymol test, pcs. 2,3 ± 0,12 3,3 ± 0,28 2) 3,9 ± 0,31 3) 3,7 ± 0,27 2) 2,4 ± 0,27 Total bilirubin, µmol / l 7,4 ± 0,24 10,5 ±1,19 1) 13,3 ±1,32 2) 18,9 ±0,87 3) 31,2 ±0,63 3) Direct bilirubin, µmol / l 2,4 ± 0,15 4,2 ± 0,83 4,0 ± 0,56 1) 7,2 ± 0,38 3) 14,7 ±0,16 3) Indirect bilirubin µmol / l 5,1 ± 0,35 6,4 ± 0,42 1) 9,1 ± 0,81 2) 11,5 ±0,51 3) 17,1 ±0,66 3) Note: 1)р <0,05; 2) -р <0,01; 3) -р <0,001…”