兔脑炎原虫病防制研究进展

兔脑炎原虫病是由兔脑炎原虫引起的一种人畜共患的寄生虫病 ,该虫可感染各种动物和人。其中以兔的感染较为严重 ,且多为隐性或慢性感染。因此对兔脑炎原虫病的诊断、预防及治疗显得非常重要。过去对此病的诊断通常采用病理组织学检查法或血清学等方法 ,而且没有有效防治该病的措施。随着近年来国际上对此病研究的深入 ,出现了一些新型的诊断技术如 PCR技术和透射电镜术等 ,并能用一些药物进行防治 ,如阿苯达唑和多胺等。文章重点就诊断和防治两方面进行了概述     

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.