Prevalence of rabbit hepatic coccidiosis in north west of Iran

Abstract

Hepatic coccidiosis is considered as a major problem in rabbits which mortality rate may go high as a result of <br />unhygienic maintenance with overcrowding. This study was aimed to determine abundance and pathologic <br />changes of hepatic coccidiosis in rabbits of northwestern Iran. A total of 320 rabbits (110 New Zealand, 110 <br />Angora, and 100 Native) in different sex and age groups were randomly selected from rabbitories in <br />northwestern Iran. The rabbits were kept either individually in cages or in groups in floor pens. They <br />reproduced for research and instraction. Fecal samples were collected from cages and floor pens and subjected <br />to flotation techniques. The collected liver tissues fixed in 10% buffered formal saline, sectioned, and stained <br />with Hematoxyline and Eosin (H&E). Results indicated that infection rate with E. stiedae was 26.87% <br />(86/320). The prevalence of E. stiedae was significantly higher in weanling rabbits (5-8 months) (9.69%, <br />31/320) than other age groups. There was no significant difference in the prevalence of E. stiedae between <br />male and female rabbits. At necropsy, numerous and scattered white nodules about 0.1 to 0.5 cm in diameter <br />were observed on the liver surface. Histopathological lesions included hyperplasia of the bile duct epithelium <br />with different developmental stages of coccidian agents. Granuloma tissues encircle the bile duct with <br />infiltration of inflammatory cells. It was concluded that hepatic coccidiosis was common in Iranian rabbits of <br />the region and with proper management and strict hygine and sanitation can effectively control the rate of <br />infection in the rabbitories.