Garlic and hepatic coccidiosis: prophylaxis or treatment?

A study was conducted to investigate the protective and therapeutic effects of crude garlic (Allium sativum) against experimental infection with Eimeria stiedae in rabbits. Forty rabbits were divided into four groups of ten rabbits each: a healthy control group (HC); a challenged-garlic-protected group (CGP) which received a daily dose of 0.5 g/kg body weight (bwt) crude garlic for five successive days before challenge with E. stiedae; a challenged-garlic-treated group (CGT) which was treated with a daily dose of 0.5 g/kg bwt crude garlic for five successive days post-challenge; and an infected control group (IC). The challenge dose was 5?×?10⁴ sporulated E. stiedae oocysts per rabbit. Mortality rate, body weight gain, feed conversion ratio and faecal oocyst count were evaluated throughout the experiment. At the end of the experiment, all rabbits were killed and histopathological examination was performed. No mortalities were recorded in the HC and CGP groups, whilst mortality was found to be 20% and 40% in the CGT and IC groups, respectively. CGP rabbits had better body weight gain and lower numbers of oocysts than those in the CGT and IC groups. Hepatic lesions were less severe in the CGP group than in the CGT and IC groups. These results showed that oral administration of crude garlic ameliorated the adverse impacts of hepatic coccidiosis on rabbits when used as a prophylactic, but garlic was less effective as a therapeutic.     

Comparative effects of Herba Cox®, a commercial herbal extract,on rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) experimentally infected with Eimeria stiedae

The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of Herba Cox®, a commercial herbal compound containing extracts from Bombax malabaricum, Aegle marmelos, Anethum foeniculum, Resina salvia, Ferula asafoetida and Papaver somniferum, for the treatment of rabbit hepatic coccidiosis. Thirty rabbits were allocated into three groups (10 × 3), the G1 group served as a negative control group, G2 group (positive control group) was infected with 5 × 10⁴ sporulated E. stiedaeoocysts and served as infected-untreated group, and G3 group was infected with 5 × 10⁴ sporulated E. stiedaeoocysts and treated with Herba Cox®, 1 ml/liter of drinking water, starting 7 days before infection and continuing for 4 weeks post-infection. When compared to the infected group (G2), body weight and weight gain were significantly (P ≤ 0.05) increased, the feed conversion rate was improved and no mortality was detected in infected treated group (G3) and similar to negative control group (G1). In addition, faecal oocyst output and liver enzymes were significantly decreased. Malondialdehyde, nitric oxide, and glutathione concentrations observed in G3 were similar to those in G1. In infected-untreated rabbits (G2), the haemoglobin, lymphocytes, and CD4+/ CD8+ ratio were significantly decreased, while the total leukocyte count, percentage of heterophils, and heterophil/lymphocyte ratio were increased. Significantly more severe histopathological hepatic lesions were observed in G2 when compared to G1 and G3. In conclusion, the obtained results showed that Herba Cox® should be considered a safe and novel effective compound for the treatment of E. stiedae infection in rabbits.     

Spontaneous cataracts in laboratory rabbits

Objective To document the occurrence and incidence of spontaneously occurring cataracts in older New Zealand White (NZW) and New Zealand White × New Zealand Red (NZW × NZR – F1) rabbits during prescreening examinations at Alcon Laboratories. Procedures A retrospective study was conducted on prescreening examination records of NZW and NZW × NZR (F1) rabbits at Alcon Laboratories between April 1999 and May 2001. Results A total of 946 rabbits (670 NZW and 276 NZW × NZR) ranging in age from 77 to 288 days were examined. Of the NZW rabbits, 333 were males and 337 were females. Of the NZW × NZR (F1) rabbits, 139 were males and 137 were females. Thirty‐eight NZW rabbits (23 males and 15 females) exhibited immature cataracts in one or both eyes, and three NZW × NZR (F1) rabbits (one male and two females) exhibited cataracts in one or both eyes. The overall incidence of cataracts was 4.3% of all rabbits. Males and females were equally affected, but a significant difference in the incidence of cataracts existed between the NZW and NZW × NZR (F1) rabbits with 5.7% of the NZW rabbits affected and 1.1% of the NZW × NZR (F1) rabbits affected. Conclusion Spontaneous juvenile cataracts occur in rabbits and may develop as incidental lesions during toxicologic studies. The incidence of cataracts noted in our studies is consistent with an autosomal recessive mode of inheritance, but further studies are needed to confirm the mode or modes of inheritance. Hybrid pigmented rabbits (F1 or NZW × NZR) exhibited a significantly lower incidence of cataracts.     

Paratuberculosis in European wild rabbits from the Iberian Peninsula

Of the non-ruminant wildlife species known to harbor Mycobacterium avium paratuberculosis (MAP), the rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) is thought to pose the greatest risk of transmission to cattle. We analyzed 80 hunter-harvested wild rabbits from a core study area in southern Spain, and sera from 157 wild rabbits sampled opportunistically on seven additional sites. Gross lesions compatible with paratuberculosis were observed in two of 80 necropsied rabbits. Histopathology revealed focal to diffuse multibacillary MAP-compatible lesions in 8 of 10 rabbits examined. Presence of MAP was confirmed in one rabbit with gross lesions by positive amplification curves for both IS900 and ISMAP02. However, no isolate was obtained from 47 samples by culture. We adapted an indirect ELISA for the detection of MAP antibodies. At the established cut-off of 0.5, 6 of 237 wild rabbit sera (2.5%) yielded a positive ELISA result. Antibodies were detected in rabbits from 3 of 8 sampling sites. Considering the increasing relevance of MAP infection for animal health, these results open a challenging field for future research.     

DIAGNOSIS AND SURGICAL TREATMENT OF A TRANSITIONAL CELL CARCINOMA IN THE BLADDER APEX OF A PET RABBIT (ORYCTOLAGUS CUNICULUS)

A 6-year-old, 1.9-kg female spayed lop-eared European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) was evaluated for acute hematuria and inappropriate urination and defecation of less than 12-hours duration. Abdominal ultrasonography revealed a suspected bladder mass. Ultrasound-guided cystocentesis was performed and the results of the urinalysis were unremarkable. An abdominal exploratory surgery revealed a nodular cystic mass at the cranial ventral apex of the bladder wall which measured 0.5 cm × 0.5 cm. Based on histopathologic evaluation, excision of the neoplasm was complete and the mass was diagnosed as transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder. This case suggests that urinary bladder transitional cell carcinoma should be considered in pet rabbits presenting with similar clinical signs.     

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.     

Effect of dietary inclusion of Leucaena leucocephala or Moringa oleifera leaf meal on performance of growing rabbits

This experiment was carried out to evaluate the effect of including either Leucaena leucocephala (LLM) or Moringa oleifera leaf meal (MOLM) as tropical feed resources at two levels (30 or 40 %) on growth performance, carcass traits, and economical efficiency of growing rabbits. A total of 60 California growing rabbits were randomly distributed into five experimental groups, each consisting of 12 rabbits and were allocated individually; the groups were control, 30 % LLM, 40 % LLM, 30 % MOLM, and 40 % MOLM. The experimental period lasted from 6 to 12 weeks of age. The results showed that rabbits fed control and 30 % MOLM diets had significantly the highest final body weight and daily weight gain being 2,040 and 2,000 g and 31.6 and 30.6 g/day, respectively. Similarly, the best feed conversion ratio was associated with 30 % MOLM and control groups (3.2 and 3.4), while the worst value was for 40 % LLM group (5.2). MOLM treatments recorded significantly the highest dressing percentage along with control group. The inclusion of MOLM by 30 and 40 % improved the economical efficiency (2 and 1.5) in comparison with the control group (1.1). The results suggest that MOLM can be included in growing rabbit diets up to 40 % without any adverse effect on growth performance or carcass traits with higher economical efficiency of growing rabbits.     

Replacement of berseem hay by Salix tetrasperma on physiological performance of New Zealand White rabbits under subtropical conditions of Egypt

Forty-eight growing New Zealand White male rabbits aged 6 weeks (874?±?1.3 g initial body weight (BW)) were used to study effects of partial replacement of berseem hay (BH) with Salix tetrasperma hay (ST) on growth and physiological responses. Rabbits were allotted to one of four diets of 12 rabbits each for 75 days in a completely randomized design. The treatments were as follows: control (30 % BH), ST25 (7.5 % ST?+?22.5 % BH), ST50 (15 % ST?+?15 % BH), ST75 (22.5 % ST?+?7.5 % BH). Nutrient digestibility coefficients, nutritive value and N utilization of rabbits fed with the ST50 rations were higher (P?P?P??ST25 and ST50?>?control. Glucose level was higher (P?P?P?相似文献   

Organ traits and histopathology of rabbits fed varied levels of dietary fumonisin B1

In a 196‐day feeding trial, 48 male crossbred rabbits (New Zealand × Chinchilla) were randomly assigned and fed varied dietary fumonisin levels of 0.13, 5.0, 7.5 and 10.0 mg fumonisin B₁/kg diet constituting treatments 1 (control), 2, 3 and 4 respectively. Five animals were randomly selected, stunned and killed per treatment. Relative weight of various visceral organs examined except heart and adrenal gland were significantly (p < 0.05) influenced by the dietary treatments. Liver and spleen weights of rabbits fed 10.0 mg fumonisin per kg were significantly (p < 0.05) lower than those fed control diet and diet 2. Kidney and testes weights were significantly (p < 0.05) lower in rabbits fed control diet and increased with increase in the dietary fumonisin levels. Histological examination of the organs revealed that rabbits fed diets 2, 3 and 4 showed increased severe lesion of approximately 20%, 40% and 60%, respectively, of the total slides examined for each treatment. Forty per cent and 80% of the rabbits fed diets containing 7.5 and 10.0 mg/kg fumonisin, respectively, showed severe necrosis whereas 40%, 60% and 20% of the rabbits fed 5.0, 7.5 and 10.0 mg/kg, respectively, showed mild–moderate liver necrosis/lesions as compared with non‐significant lesion observed in the controls. Testicles of rabbits fed diets 3 and 4 showed mild–moderate lesions and sertoli cell degeneration. Tunica mucosa erosion was observed and predominant in the stomach and small intestine of rabbits fed 7.5 and 10.0 mg fumonisin per kg diet. This suggested that fumonisin B₁ above 5.0 mg/kg in rabbit diet is toxic to body organs with potential to induce their hypofunction or total damage.     

MALIGNANT CATARRHAL FEVER IN FARMED RUSA DEER (CERVUS TIMORENSIS): 2. Animal Transmission and Virological Studies

SUMMARY A disease with clinical signs and histological lesions similar to malignant catarrhal fever in cattle was transmitted from Rusa deer (Cervus timorensis) to rabbits. This was accomplished on 3 separate occasions, and the disease was serially passaged in rabbits up to 11 times. The clinical signs in affected rabbits were pyrexia, depression, anorexia, mucopurulent conjuctivitis, nasal discharge and diarrhoea. These signs were seen in 27 of 38 inoculated rabbits with the mean incubation period being 12 days (range 8 to 20 days). Histologically, affected rabbits exhibited mononuclear perivascular cuffing and vasculitis in the brain, heart, liver and kidney. Lymph nodes and spleen showed destruction and loss of mature lymphocytes and lymphoid follicles and an increased number of large lymphoblastoid cells. These clinical signs and lesions were not detected in control rabbits. The disease was not transmitted to cattle, sheep, guinea pigs or mice, nor was an agent isolated in cattle, deer or rabbit tissue cultures, or in chicken embryos.     

Mensuration of the rabbit pituitary gland from computed tomography

The aim of this retrospective reference interval observational study was to determine the mensuration of the pituitary gland (hypophysis cerebri) by analyzing CT studies in rabbits without clinical evidence of pituitary disease or central neurologic signs. Though diseases of the rabbit pituitary gland are uncommon, the pituitary gland is essential in regulation of the rabbit's endocrine system, as in other species. Currently, there are minimal published studies that detail the rabbit head anatomy on cross‐sectional imaging, and even less specifically examining the pituitary gland. The pituitary gland was measured by one observer at a single time point from transverse and reconstructed sagittal CT images in a soft‐tissue algorithm in 62 rabbits for a total of 66 rabbit head CT studies. The rabbits ranged from 0.84 to 14 years in age (mean ± SD: 5.46 ± 3.05 years) and 0.92 to 4.95 kg in weight (2.21 ± 0.83 kg). Linear pituitary measurements were performed using electronic calipers. The mean ± SD pituitary height was 4.22 ± 0.57 mm, width was 4.48 ± 0.71 mm, and length was 6.02 ± 0.70 mm. The pituitary gland height‐to‐brain area ratio was 1.10 ± 0.16 mm^?1, which is much higher than the values reported in normal dogs and cats. The age, weight, and sex of the rabbits were not found to have a significant impact on pituitary gland mensuration. These measurements could be useful as a reference range for future rabbit head CT studies and to rule out pituitary enlargement or disease when evaluating rabbit pituitary glands.     

Epidemiological Investigation and Species Identification of Eimeria of a Rex Rabbit Farm in Fujian Province

In order to investigate coccidium infection of a Rex rabbit farm in Fujian province, 494 fecal samples were collected from different ages of Rex rabbits and examined by McMaster's method and the method of saturated saline flotation.The results showed that the total prevalence was 87.45% and the mean oocysts per gram (OPG) value was 2.56×10⁴.The prevalences of coccidia among each rabbit age were different, and it was highest at the age of about 40 d (98.61%) and about 65 d (98.95%) rabbits.The prevalence and OPG values at the age under 30 d (19.23% and 331) were significantly lower, and the distribution pattern of OPG values was negative binomial distribution in rabbits by using fitting of distributions.In total, 11 species of Eimeria were identified from oocyst-positive samples.The infection of Eimeria was mixed infection with more than two Eimeria species, and mostly of which were infected by 3 to 7 Eimeria species.The dominant species of Eimeria were E.perforans, E.media, E.exigua and E.magna, and their prevalences were 20.15%, 16.79%, 13.94% and 13.48%, respectively.     

福建某獭兔场兔艾美耳球虫感染情况调查及种类鉴定

为掌握福建某规模化獭兔场兔球虫病的流行情况,采用麦克马斯特计数法(McMaster's method)和饱和氯化钠溶液漂浮法,对采集的494份獭兔粪便样品中兔球虫感染情况和卵囊种类进行调查分析。结果显示,该獭兔场兔球虫总感染率和平均每克粪便卵囊数(OPG值)分别为87.45%和2.56×10⁴,各日龄段均有感染,其中以40日龄左右兔和65日龄左右兔感染率最高,分别达98.61%和98.95%;30日龄以下哺乳仔兔感染率和OPG值均最低,分别为19.23%和331,且该场兔球虫卵囊的OPG值分布符合负二项分布。本次调查共检出11种兔艾美耳球虫,均为混合感染,感染球虫种类多为3~7种;其中感染比例最高的4种兔球虫依次为穿孔艾美耳球虫(20.15%)、中型艾美耳球虫(16.79%)、小型艾美耳球虫(13.94%)和大型艾美耳球虫(13.48%)。     

节瘤拟杆菌K-凝集试验方法的建立

根据节瘤拟杆菌(D.nodosus)特异的表面抗原———K抗原具有凝集反应的特性,建立了检测抗节瘤拟杆菌抗体的方法———K-凝集试验方法。节瘤拟杆菌液体培养物接种兔,制备节瘤拟杆菌阳性血清;福尔马林灭活肉汤培养物制备抗原,结果表明,该方法使用方便、特异性强。     

Evaluation of alfaxalone total intravenous anesthesia in rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) premedicated with dexmedetomidine or dexmedetomidine and buprenorphine

ObjectiveTo evaluate alfaxalone for total intravenous anesthesia (TIVA) in rabbits premedicated with dexmedetomidine or dexmedetomidine and buprenorphine.Study designCrossover study (part 1) with observational study (part 2).AnimalsA total of eight New Zealand White rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus), four female and four male, aged 12–16 weeks and weighing 2.8–3.5 kg in part 1. Separately, four additional rabbits in part 2.MethodsCrossover study design with eight rabbits per treatment. Rabbits were administered treatment D, dexmedetomidine (0.2 mg kg^–1), or treatment DB, dexmedetomidine (0.1 mg kg^–1) and buprenorphine (0.05 mg kg^–1) intramuscularly. Anesthesia was induced with alfaxalone intravenously until a supraglottic airway device was placed to deliver 100% oxygen. Anesthesia was maintained with alfaxalone (TIVA). Infusion rates were adjusted to achieve an absent pedal withdrawal reflex. Heart rate, respiratory rate, noninvasive blood pressure, end-tidal carbon dioxide partial pressure and peripheral hemoglobin oxygen saturation (SpO₂) were recorded every 5 minutes. Subsequently, four rabbits underwent ovariohysterectomy using treatment DB and alfaxalone TIVA.ResultsThe mean ± standard deviation alfaxalone infusion rate was 9.6 ± 2.6 and 4.5 ± 1.3 mg kg^–1 hour^–1 for treatments D and DB, respectively. In both treatments, blood pressure remained within acceptable range and SpO₂ was > 95%. Postinduction apnea and respiratory depression were observed in both treatments and managed with manual positive pressure ventilation. Four separate rabbits underwent successful ovariohysterectomy with treatment DB and alfaxalone TIVA. One rabbit required supplementation with inhalant anesthesia; three rabbits were successfully maintained using alfaxalone TIVA alone.Conclusions and clinical relevancePremedication with dexmedetomidine–buprenorphine combined with alfaxalone TIVA may be a viable alternative for performing abdominal surgery in the rabbit. The use of supplemental oxygen and ability to provide respiratory support are advised.     

The effects of spatial restriction on the behavior of rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus)

Companion rabbits can be housed in a wide variety of accommodations including hutches of smaller dimensions as compared with those that are legally required for laboratory and farmed rabbits. Small rabbit enclosures may restrict behavior patterns including hopping, stretching, and rearing and may compromise rabbit welfare especially when these activities are important to the rabbits. To investigate this possibility, 19 rabbits of different sizes and breeds were housed in small pens equivalent to floor areas of hutches (0.88 m²), medium pens approximately twice the floor area of conventional hutches (1.68 m²), and large pens approximately 4 times the floor area of conventional hutches (3.35 m²). Through scan sampling, 24-hour time budgets of the rabbits were determined and their response to a change in enclosure size was assessed by continuously sampling their behavior for 2 hours after their transfer into different-sized pens. Mixed model analysis using rabbit as the repeated measure found that rabbits were generally more active and interacted more with environmental resources in larger pens compared with smaller pens (P < 0.05). Also, rabbits exhibited a rebound effect in activity and rearing when moved from a smaller sized pen to a larger sized pen (P < 0.05). These findings show that larger pens provide behavioral opportunities that are restricted in smaller pens, and suggest that smaller hutches can jeopardize rabbit welfare.     

First insight into Encephalitozoon cuniculi infection in laboratory and pet rabbits in Iran

Encephalitozoon cuniculi infects a wide variety of domestic and wild mammalian species including humans. Although the infection status has been studied in laboratory and pet rabbits worldwide, there is shortage of information regarding the disease in Iran. In the present study, the occurrence of infection in brains of 117 asymptomatic rabbits from six breeding and experimental units with highest population of rabbit colonies in the country (n = 60) as well as pet rabbits of pet stores in two cities (n = 57) were examined by nested-PCR. Histological sections of brains and kidneys were also studied by light microscopy. PCR results revealed that 3.3% of laboratory rabbits (2/60) and 59.6% of pet rabbits (34/57) harboured E. cuniculi in their brains. Histopathology on the other hand showed spores of the parasite in kidney and brain of one and kidney of another pet rabbit. As encephalitozoonosis may interfere with results of experiments performed on laboratory rabbits, routine screenings for identification and culling of infected animals is recommended. Furthermore, infected companion rabbits can transmit E. cuniculi to people in close contact with them, therefore, improving public knowledge of this zoonotic infection is suggested.     

High and low virulence Staphylococcus aureus strains in a rabbit skin infection model

In the present study, an in vivo rabbit skin infection model was developed to reproduce the lesions caused by high and low virulence Staphylococcus aureus strains from rabbits. "O"-shaped dermal skin lesions were induced on the shaved flanks of anaesthetised rabbits using a tattoo pin and pincers. The induced lesions on the flanks of four groups of 10 rabbits were then inoculated by topical application of 0.1 ml of 10(8)cfu S. aureus bacteria. One group was inoculated with a typical high virulence (HV) S. aureus strain from rabbits, one group received an atypical HV strain and two groups were inoculated with low virulence (LV) strains. Five animals were kept as negative controls. The development, appearance and size of abscesses were scored daily for a period of 2 weeks. The infection model showed reproducible results for the different S. aureus inoculation groups. Inoculation of the skin with the typical HV strain resulted in significantly larger abscesses than those caused by the LV strains. The atypical HV strain caused abscesses of a size intermediate to that obtained with the HV and LV strains. In rabbits infected with LV strains, most of the lesions had healed by day 14 post-inoculation. The devised infection model is able to reliably reproduce the virulence properties of HV and LV S. aureus strains.     

Pharmacokinetics of norfloxacin after intravenous,intramuscular and subcutaneous administration to rabbits

The disposition kinetics of norfloxacin, after intravenous, intramuscular and subcutaneous administration was determined in rabbits at a single dose of 10 mg/kg. Six New Zealand white rabbits of both sexes were treated with aqueous solution of norfloxacin (2%). A cross‐over design was used in three phases (2 × 2 × 2), with two washout periods of 15 days. Plasma samples were collected up to 72 hr after treatment, snap‐frozen at ?45°C and analysed for norfloxacin concentrations using high‐performance liquid chromatography. The terminal half‐life for i.v., i.m. and s.c. routes was 3.18, 4.90 and 4.16 hr, respectively. Clearance value after i.v. dosing was 0.80 L/h·kg. After i.m. administration, the absolute bioavailability was (mean ± SD ) 108.25 ± 12.98% and the C_max was 3.68 mg/L. After s.c. administration, the absolute bioavailability was (mean ± SD ) 84.08 ± 10.36% and the C_max was 4.28 mg/L. As general adverse reactions were not observed in any rabbit and favourable pharmacokinetics were found, norfloxacin at 10 mg/kg after i.m. and s.c. dose could be effective in rabbits against micro‐organisms with MIC ≤0.14 or 0.11 μg/mL , respectively.