Examination of Eimeria oocyst infection in rabbits
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17205/aweth.7050Keywords:
Oryctolagus cuniculus, parasitology, coccidiosis, coccidiostatAbstract
Parasitic infections are the most common health problems in domestic rabbits, of which coccidiosis occurs the most frequently in large farms. Several Eimeria species are involved in the development of coccidiosis. Based on parasitological data collected in the past years, the aim of the study was to investigate the Eimeria spp.infestation of large-scale rabbit farms in Hungary and Slovakia, furthermore, to examine the effect of season, coccidiostats and age of the animals on oocyst infection. Data of samples collected between March 2018 and May 2024 (n = 12020) were evaluated. The 35.5% of tested samples contained oocysts. Based on the test results, Eimeria oocysts are present on rabbit farms in all seasons and ages of the animals. Higher proportion of samples were positive for Eimeria oocysts in the summer (40%) and the autumn (39%) than in the winter (34%; P < 0.001) and the fewest positive samples were recorded in the spring (28%; P < 0.001). Coccidia were already present in the faeces of rabbits during lactation, but with a relatively low frequency. The infection level showed an upward trend in the post-weaning period. Based on an estimating model, a significant increase in infection can be estimated on 38–40 days of age. There was no significant difference between the effects of the two coccidiostatic active substances used in rabbit feed (Diclazuril, Robenidine) on production and mortality of rabbits.
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Copyright (c) 2025 Demeter Csongor, Németh Zoltán, Demeter-Jeremiás Anett, Bárdos Boróka, Sándor Máté, Gerencsér Zsolt, Lencsés-Varga Erika, Matics Zsolt
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