Abstract
The aim of the present study was to examine the effect of intestinal coccidia upon the white cell
count and differential leukocyte count of the infected rabbits. Two groups of rabbits were infected
with various doses of intestinal coccidia oocysts. The first group (A) was infected with 2 x 105, and the second (B) with 4 x 105 of sporulated oocysts. The inoculum was composed of oocysts of
the following intestinal coccidia: Eimeria flavescens (7%), E. matsubayashii (9%), E. magna
(12%), E. neoleporis (19%), E. perforans (21%) and E. media (32%). The infective mix was
dominated by moderately pathogenic species causing a mild form of intestinal coccidiosis in the
rabbits. The third group (C) served as the control (uninfected rabbits). Immediately before the
infection, on days 4, 7 and 10 post infection, the rabbits were bled and white cell count, blood
smears and differential blood cell count were done. We found that in this form of intestinal
coccidiosis, the number of white cells was increased. The number of monocytes was risen
significantly only on day 10. Lymphocyte count decreased whereas the number of eosinophiles
remained unchanged despite the fact that coccidiosis is a parasitic disease.
