EIMERIA OOCYST EXCRETION IN NATURALLY INFECTED RABBIT IN A FARM FOR MEAT PRODUCTION

Abstract

Coccidiosis is cause of economic losses due to weight loss and growth retardation, decreased feeding efficiency, diarrhea and death of weaning rabbits. The main objective of the work was to evaluate the dynamic change of Eimeria oocyst shedding in the reproductive stage and in weaned litters during the fattening period, in a farm for meat production, with a history of coccidiosis infection. A faecal sample of the following physiological condition was obtained weekly: gestation (G1, G2, G3 and G4) and lactation (L1, L2, L3 and L4), not pregnant or not lactating were also included (V). In weaned rabbits, faecal sample / litters were obtained weekly, until rabbits reached the slaughter weight (2.5 kg). All samples were examined by flotation and the McMaster method. Co-infection with six species of the genus Eimeria could be observed in all positive animals. The infection rate in rabbits varied according to physiological state, being 22.7% (G3- L3), 13.4% (G4), 9.1% (G1-L4), 20% (GL), 4.6% (G2-L2). During the first week of lactation (L1), no positivity was observed. Parasitic loads ranged from 40 to 13820 OPG; the highest counts were observed in L2 and G3. In the second half of lactation, females have seven times the risk of excreting oocysts in the feces compared to the first half. Litter rabbits excreted oocyst during all fattening period; however, during weeks 3 to 7 the oocyst excretion was higher. This is the first report in which it is described the oocysts mixture of six Eimeria species (E. vejdovskyi, E. coecicola, E. magna, E. exigua, E. media and E. stiedae) from the rabbit for meat production in the region. These findings show that breeding rabbits are asymptomatic carriers of coccidian infections and can shed oocysts at any time during the reproductive cycle.

Coccidiosis is cause of economic losses due to weight loss and growth retardation, decreased feeding efficiency, diarrhea and death of weaning rabbits. The main objective of the work was to evaluate the dynamic change of Eimeria oocyst shedding in the reproductive stage and in weaned litters during the fattening period, in a farm for meat production, with a history of coccidiosis infection. A faecal sample of the following physiological condition was obtained weekly: gestation (G1, G2, G3 and G4) and lactation (L1, L2, L3 and L4), not pregnant or not lactating were also included (V). In weaned rabbits, faecal sample / litters were obtained weekly, until rabbits reached the slaughter weight (2.5 kg). All samples were examined by flotation and the McMaster method. Co-infection with six species of the genus Eimeria could be observed in all positive animals. The infection rate in rabbits varied according to physiological state, being 22.7% (G3- L3), 13.4% (G4), 9.1% (G1-L4), 20% (GL), 4.6% (G2-L2). During the first week of lactation (L1), no positivity was observed. Parasitic loads ranged from 40 to 13820 OPG; the highest counts were observed in L2 and G3. In the second half of lactation, females have seven times the risk of excreting oocysts in the feces compared to the first half. Litter rabbits excreted oocyst during all fattening period; however, during weeks 3 to 7 the oocyst excretion was higher. This is the first report in which it is described the oocysts mixture of six Eimeria species (E. vejdovskyi, E. coecicola, E. magna, E. exigua, E. media and E. stiedae) from the rabbit for meat production in the region. These findings show that breeding rabbits are asymptomatic carriers of coccidian infections and can shed oocysts at any time during the reproductive cycle.