Pathology and Therapy in Naturally Eimeria stiedae-Infected Rabbits

Abstract

Clinical hepatic coccidiosis in New Zealand white rabbits (n=24) of either sex (aged 1-2 month) with clinical signs, pathology an therapy is presented. The infected rabbits showed anorexia, reluctance to move and death within 3-4 days. Liver showed irregular whitish nodules scattered on its surface and in deeper parenchyma. Characteristic histopathological changes in liver with different developmental stages of Eimeria stiedae in the epithelial cells of bile ducts have been recorded. Treatment of infected rabbits with 2.5% toltrazuril (Baycox) at 25 ppm in water for 2 days was highly effective. The oocysts is appeared in the faeces on day 6 after treatment. No mortality was seen in treated rabbits while all the infected untreated rabbits died with in a period of 7 days.