Microsporidia (Encephalitozoon cuniculi) in wild rabbits in Australia

Objective To determine the prevalence of infection with Encephalitozoon cuniculi i n wild rabbit populations in Western Australia, and to isolate the organism from seropositive rabbits.
Design Serological screening of wild and clinically affected domestic rabbit populations.
Sample population Eighty-one wild rabbits from southwestern Western Australia and 29 laboratory rabbits.
Procedure Indirect immunofluorescence antibody technique and in-vitro amplification of parasite isolates in fibroblast cultures.
Results Of the 81 wild rabbits and 29 laboratory rabbits, 20 and 22 respectively, had antibodies to E cuniculi . E cuniculi from the urine of one seropositive laboratory rabbit and from brain and kidney tissues of eight and five seropositive laboratory and wild rabbits respectively were isolated in fibroblast cultures.
Conclusion E cuniculi infection has been shown for the first time to be prevalent in wild rabbits in Australia. Techniques have been developed for the isolation and culture of the causative agent. Comparative studies can now be undertaken to determine risk factors for clinical disease in domestic rabbits and the relationship among E cuniculi isolates from wild and domestic rabbits.     

Coccidia in sheep in South Australia

Faecal samples from 136 sheep from four different locations in South Australia were examined to determine the types and numbers of Eimeria spp. present. Coccidian oocysts were detected in 80% of the sheep and 11 different species of Eimeria were identified. The species detected (and their prevalence) were E. crandallis/E. weybridgensis (76%), E. ovina (55%), E. ovinoidalis (54%), E. granulosa (49%), E. parva/E. pallida (44%), E. intricata (37%), E. ahsata (31%), E. faurei (24%), and E. punctata (1%). No major differences were observed in the patterns of infection between the four locations examined. Faecal samples were also collected each month for a year from 48 lambs at two of the locations and oocyst counts were found to decrease markedly in all lambs after 6 months of age but to persist at low levels until the end of sampling at 17 months of age.     

Trypanosoma spp. infection in wild rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) during a restocking program in Southern Spain

The effect of parasites on managed rabbit populations may prove crucial to develop sanitary strategies during restocking programs of such key prey species. We investigated natural infection of European wild rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) with Trypanosoma spp. in Spain. By fencing part of the warrens during a rabbit restocking program, we induced host variation in rabbit density across these socio-spatial units. We aimed (i) to compare Trypanosoma spp. infection spread between fenced and open warrens and (ii) to assess the relationship between body condition and infection. Trypanosoma spp. parasitaemia peaked in juveniles and decreased onwards. Adult females showed statistically higher infection rates than males. Rabbits from fenced warrens presented statistically higher infection rates than those from open ones, but did not differ in body condition. Parasite abundance negatively correlated with body condition in adults. Sex differences could resemble increased susceptibility to infection in females as a cost of reproduction and/or a higher exposition inside the warrens. Future studies should clarify whether aggregation caused enhanced exposition to intermediate hosts (fleas) and subsequent transmission of the parasite, and we stress that the study of non-lethal parasites during restocking programs provides valuable information on host contact rates and on factors affecting disease susceptibility.     

Prevalence of Lawsonia intracellularis, Salmonella spp. and Eimeria spp. in healthy and diarrheic pet rabbits

A total of 170 fresh fecal samples (healthy; n=137, diarrheic; n=33) were collected from pet rabbits. By using PCR and formol-ether concentration method, a total 13/137 healthy rabbit feces were positive for L. intracellularis, 6/137 for Salmonella, and 13/137 for Eimeria. On the other hand, a total 17/33 diarrheic rabbit fecal samples were positive for L. intracellularis, 10/33 for Salmonella, and 21/33 for Eimeria. From these results, more than 20% of clinically normal and 97% of diarrheic rabbits were positive for single or concurrent infection of three pathogens. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report to describe the prevalence of the microorganisms L. intracellularis, Salmonella and Eimeria in pet rabbits.     

Coccidia of domestic and feral goats in South Australia

Faecal samples were examined from 497 domestic and 318 feral goats in South Australia. Oocysts of Eimeria species were detected in 97% of the domestic goats and 3% of the fetal goats. The species of Eimeria identified from domestic goats (and their prevalences) were E. hirci (82%), E. arloingi (81%), E. ninakohlyakimovae (51%), E. alijevi (49%), E. caprina (32%), E. christenseni (29%), E. caprovina (12%), E. jolchijevi (9%) and E. apsheronica (6%). Two of these species, E. caprina and E. jolchijevi, were not found in the feral goats. E. christenseni, E. caprovina and E. jolchijevi were more prevalent in domestic goats < 12 months old than in adults.     

Neuro-angiostrongylosis in wild Black and Grey-headed flying foxes (Pteropus spp)

OBJECTIVE: To identify nematodes seen in histological sections of brains of flying foxes (fruit bats) and describe the associated clinical disease and pathology. PROCEDURES: Gross and histological examination of brains from 86 free-living flying foxes with neurological disease was done as part of an ongoing surveillance program for Australian bat lyssavirus. Worms were recovered, or if seen in histological sections, extracted by maceration of half the brain and identified by microscopic examination. Histological archives were also reviewed. RESULTS: There was histological evidence of angiostrongylosis in 16 of 86 recently submitted flying foxes with neurological disease and in one archival case from 1992. In 10 flying foxes, worms were definitively identified as Angiostrongylus cantonensis fifth-stage larvae. A worm fragment and third stage larvae were identified as Angiostrongylus sp, presumably A cantonensis, in a further three cases. The clinical picture was dominated by paresis, particularly of the hindlimbs, and depression, with flying foxes surviving up to 22 days in the care of wildlife volunteers. Brains containing fifth-stage larvae showed a moderate to severe eosinophilic and granulomatous meningoencephalitis (n = 14), whereas there was virtually no inflammation of the brains of bats which died when infected with only smaller, third-stage larvae (n = 3). There was no histological evidence of pulmonary involvement. CONCLUSION: This is the first report of the recovery and identification of A cantonensis from free-living Australian wildlife. While angiostrongylosis is a common cause of paresis in flying foxes, the initial clinical course cannot be differentiated from Australian bat lyssavirus infection, and wildlife carers should be urged not to attempt to rehabilitate flying foxes with neurological disease.     

Eimeria stiedae causes most of the white-spotted liver lesions in wild European rabbits in Cambridgeshire,United Kingdom

In rabbits, a white-spotted liver can be indicative of one of several disease processes, frequently caused by parasites. To date, the prevalence of white-spotted liver in wild rabbits, Oryctolagus cuniculus, in the United Kingdom is undetermined. We evaluated the prevalence and main parasitic etiologies of this entity in a U.K. population of wild rabbits. Wild rabbits (n = 87) were shot in Cambridgeshire for population control, and cadavers were donated for research. Postmortem examination was undertaken, including gross and histologic hepatic examination. Macroscopic lesions consistent with white-spotted liver were found in 46 of 87 (53%) rabbits examined; most of these lesions were considered to be mild. For 28 of 46 (59%) rabbits with gross hepatic lesions, an etiologic agent was apparent histologically. Eimeria stiedae was detected in 21 of 87 (24%) rabbits, and Calodium hepaticum (syn. Capillaria hepatica) was detected in 7 of 87 (8%). In the subset of rabbits killed in the summer, there was a significant association between white-spotted liver and juvenile age class. There was also an association between white-spotted liver caused by E. stiedae and juvenile age class. When restricting analysis to rabbits with white-spotted liver caused by E. stiedae and submitted in the summer, both juvenile age class and female had significant effects. E. stiedae and C. hepaticum can be transmitted to pet lagomorphs via contaminated vegetation, and to humans in the case of the latter, which demonstrates the importance of monitoring the prevalence of these parasitic diseases in wild rabbits.     

陕西杨陵区猪球虫病原种类调查及一新种记述

1991年3～6月和1992年3～6月,分别对西北农业大学畜牧站猪群和兽医院门诊病猪的球虫病原种类进行了2次调查。在所查的88头猪中,球虫总感染率为80.7％（71头/88头）,查见蒂氏艾美球虫（Eimeria debliecki）,猪艾美球虫（E.suis）,新蒂艾美球虫（E.neode-bliecki）,豚艾美球虫（E.Porci）,极细艾美球虫（E.perminuta）,粗糙艾美球虫（E.scabra）,赛多尼斯艾美球虫（E.cerdnis）,猪等孢球虫（Isospora suis）和一新种杨陵艾美球虫（Eimeriayanglingensis sp.nov）共9种。文内详细描述了杨陵艾美球虫新种的形态特征,并与相似虫种进行了比较。     

In vivo and in vitro efficacy of sainfoin (Onobrychis viciifolia) against Eimeria spp in lambs

The effect of sainfoin (Onobrychis viciifolia) against ovine coccidia was evaluated in vivo and in vitro. In 3 in vivo trials weaned lambs were allocated into two treatment groups receiving diets with either lucerne (Medicago sativa) or sainfoin. During the trials, which lasted for 7 (trial 1) or 8 weeks (trials 2 and 3), oocysts per gram of faeces (OPGs), faecal scores and weight gain were recorded. In two of the experiments (trials 1 and 3) a reduction in the mean oocyst excretion rates was observed, starting three to four weeks after sainfoin hay feeding. This reduction ranged between 21.3% (trial 1) and 61.7% (trial 3) compared to the control values. As a result, a decrease in the total number of oocysts excreted (expressed as the mean area under the curve of the OPG) was observed from week 4 to the end of the two trials, respectively (trial 1: 42.6% reduction, p=0.05; trial 3: 52.4% reduction, p=0.06). The results did not show any significant diet effect on lamb growth rates and faecal scores. In the in vitro experiments the effect of 39 sainfoin extracts were tested in an oocyst sporulation inhibition assay. The Eimeria oocysts sporulation inhibition throughout the experiments did not exceed 10.7%, showing that extracts of this forages do not have a significant inhibitory effect on Eimeria oocyst sporulation. This was an initial attempt to investigate a possible anticoccidial effect of sainfoin and further studies are needed in order to better understand its mode of action against Eimeria.     

Two Eimeria species isolated from wild Japanese rock ptarmigans (Lagopus mutus japonicus) in Japan

Fecal samples were collected from 64 Japanese rock ptarmigans (Lagopus mutus japonicus) at 13 locations in the alpine zone of Japan and examined for internal parasites. We found 2 morphologically different types of eimerian oocysts. Based on morphological characteristics, one was identified as Eimeria uekii, which had already been found from Japanese rock ptarmigans in 1981, and the other was likely a new type of Eimeria. The new type of eimerian oocysts required a longer sporulation time than E. uekii. The prevalence of both eimerian oocysts in Japanese rock ptarmigans was 62.5%, while that of E. uekii was 60.9% and the new type 29.7%. Mixed infection of both types was found in 28.1%.     

Large-scale management systems and parasite populations: Coccidia in rabbits

Broiler rabbit production has become an important branch of animal protein and fur production, not only in the traditionally rabbit breeding and consuming countries, but recently in many other countries of the world.The profitability of the rabbit industry is dependent primarily on the good feed conversion. Aspects of this include factors such as morbidity and mortality of infections, adequate knowledge and fulfilment of both accommodation and nutritional requirements, appropriate breeding systems, etc.There is much controversy about the role coccidia in the losses of intensified rabbit breeding enterprises. There is no doubt about the significance of Eimeria stiedai which may cause condemnation of large amounts of large amounts of liver as a result of infection in rabbit colonies of small holders. However, this parasite is rare in large scale rabbit farms. In the latter, intestinal coccidiosis is most frequently — although not invariably — incriminated either as a primary or more often as a predisposing factor of intestinal enteropathies causing severe mortality, mainly in the early post-weaning period.The ability to isolate and maintain species of Eimeria in specifc pathogen-free (SPF) rabbits has made it possible to characterize them, such as the most pathogenic E. intestinalis and E. flavescens: the pathogenic E. magna, E. irresidua and E. piriformis; and the least pathogenic E. perforans, E. neoleporis (syn o E. coecicola and E. media species.Prophylactic measures are dealth with briefly, and laboratory and field trials with the currently most promising rabbit anti-coccidial drugs (Lerbek, robenidine and salinomyciin) are dealt with in more detail.     

Molecular detection of Leptospira spp. in wild boar (Sus scrofa) hunted in Liguria region (Italy)

Leptospirosis is a re-emerging and widespread zoonosis, worldwide distributed, due to a wide variety of wild and domestic animal species able to act as natural or accidental hosts. During last years, in Europe, as in Italy, wild boar (Sus scrofa) population is increased. This animal represents a reservoir for different etiological agents, such as Leptospira. The aim of this investigation was to evaluate the prevalence of Leptospira spp. in wild boar hunted in Liguria region (Italy) during two-year hunting seasons. From 611 hunted wild boar, kidneys were collected. DNA was extracted from each organ and different targets were used to detect pathogenic (lipL32 gene), intermediate (16S rRNA gene) and saprophytic (23S rRNA gene) Leptospira by Taqman-based RealTime-PCR assays. Overall, kidneys were sampled from 282 adults, 155 sub-adults and 174 young wild boar (in total 314 males and 298 females). By RealTime PCR 77 kidneys were positive and, among these, 74 resulted positive for pathogenic (96.10%) and 3 (3.90%) for intermediate Leptospira. No significant differences in pathogenic Leptospira infection ratio were detected between male (11.50%) and female (12.75%). Only 13 sub-adult animals (8.39%) resulted infected by pathogenic Leptospira; 23 young animals (13.22%) and 38 adult animals (13.47%) were positive. The results of this study confirmed the importance of wild boar in the epidemiology of leptospirosis, which is able to infect other animal species (domestic and wild) including humans. Rarely, intermediate Leptospira could be able to infect wild boar with a renal localization that can contribute to their shedding and circulation.     

Widespread exposure to Sarcoptes scabiei in wild European rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) in Spain

Sarcoptic mange was recently described in the wild European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) in north-eastern Mediterranean Spain, the first such infection reported in this species anywhere in the world. This finding has created concern in conservationists and game managers given that an outbreak of mange after a translocation would have catastrophic consequences for na?ve rabbit populations in other parts of Spain. A retrospective serosurvey using an 'in house' ELISA test based on the use of a recombinant antigen aimed at determining the rates of contact with Sarcoptes scabiei was carried out on sera from 966 rabbits collected between 1993 and 2010 in Spain. Antibodies were found in 13% of wild rabbits in 60% of the 53 areas surveyed, as well as in 16 of the 17 Spanish provinces and islands studied. Seropositive rabbits were found amongst the oldest samples analyzed and in all studied years. Antibodies were also detected in 36% of rabbits from the protected island of Dragonera, where rabbits have probably not been released since the 1970s. On Mallorca, where 89 rabbits were inspected for both lesions and antibodies, the prevalence of lesions (5.6%) was much lower than the seroprevalence (22.5%), indicating that rabbits often survive infection or that ELISA detects infected rabbits before they develop visible lesions. Seroprevalence was higher in areas with medium levels of rabbit abundance, no restocking and high rainfall. The results show that mange is widespread in rabbits and that the mite is not a recent introduction. Thus, sarcoptic mange could be considered as an enzootic disease in the wild rabbit and so prophylactic measures implemented during rabbit translocations are to be encouraged to avoid local outbreaks in na?ve populations.     

Vaccination of rabbits against coccidiosis using precocious lines of Eimeria magna and Eimeria media in Benin

Three groups of twelve 35-day-old rabbits were used for the experiment. Two groups were vaccinated with a mixture of precocious lines of Eimeria magna and Eimeria media originating from corresponding wild strains isolated in Benin. One group benefited of a booster whereas the second one was kept without booster. A third non-vaccinated group was used as control. All groups were challenged per os with an equal mixture of the wild strains of E. magna and E. media at a dose of 104 oocysts per animal. Three weeks after the challenge inoculation, no case of diarrhoea was recorded in the two groups of vaccinated rabbits, as compared to the non-vaccinated rabbits that developed diarrhoea. No mortality was recorded in the three groups. During the patent period, oocyst output of vaccinated rabbits was significantly lower than that of control animals (P < 0.01), confirming a good immunogenic characteristic of the precocious lines. No booster effect was noticed for the boost vaccinated group. The daily weigh gain of the two groups of vaccinated rabbits was significantly higher than that of the non-vaccinated rabbits (P < 0.05). Consequently the precocious lines of Benin origin turned out to be immunogenic and therefore constitute good potential candidates for vaccine production for this country.