Eimeria spp. infections in Hungarian industrial rabbit farms

Objectives: The aim of our study was to perform parasitological examinations on Hungarian rabbit farms, and to report data on the prevalence and morphology of Eimeria species. Materials and Methods: Fecal samples were collected in 13 Hungarian rabbit farms, and 1235 oocysts were evaluated in this study. Results and Discussion: Eight Eimeria species were identified and more Eimeria species were observed simultaneously in 83% of the samples. The Eimeria species occurred in the samples with the following prevalence: E. media 40.3%, E. coecicola 22.5%, E. magna 18.5%, E. perforans 8.3%, E. irresidua 6.8%, E. flavescens 2.7%, E. intestinalis 0.8%, E. piriformis 0.2%. The proportion of species with different pathogenicity varied considerably from one life stage to another. In case of E. media and E. magna, there was a difference between sporulated and non-sporulated oocysts in terms of both width and length. E. media sporulated oocysts were on average 10% longer and wider (p <0.01), while E. magna sporulated oocysts were 6-11% shorter and less wide compared to non-sporulated oocysts (p < 0.05). For the other identified Eimeria species, there was no difference in the dimensions of sporulated and non-sporulated oocysts. Seventy-one percent of oocysts originated from species with weak pathogenicity, while 25 percent were from moderate and 4 percent from highly pathogenic species. The proportions varied considerably in consecutive production phases. The period of lactation (weeks 1-5 of life) is characterized by weakly pathogenic species, moderately and strongly pathogenic ones appeared in proportions below 10 %. In the post weaning period (weeks 6-9 of life), the proportion of oocysts of species classified as moderately pathogenic increased, but highly pathogenic species were not detected. In the final phase of fattening (weeks 10-13 of life), slightly pathogenic species were again present in higher proportions, the proportion of moderately pathogenic pathogens decreased, and a highly pathogenic species of Eimeria (E. flavescens) was also detected.