Parasites of Rabbit

Abstract

Recently, there has been an increasing commercial production of rabbits as a source of protein. The consumers prefer rabbits' meat for its low cholesterol and fat contents. In addition to the commercial value, these animals are used as important models for medical research and as pets (Cbeccke, 1986). The domestic rabbit when compared with other livestock animals is characterized by early sexual maturity, relatively short gestation length, short generation interval, rapid growth, and by its profitability for small-scale system of production and in backyards (Finzi and Amici, 1991). Rabbit production is becoming one ofthe most impor!ant animal resources in Egypt. Rabbit statistics in Egypt indicated that the contribution of rabbits to he total r11cat production was increased from 2.3% in 1980 to 3.6% in 1992 (CAPMS, 1993). Therefore, there is an increasing need to monitor the infectious and parasitic diseases of rabbits. Rabbit farms in Egypt are mainly characterized by intensive breeding techniques. This type of breeding results in the decrease of parasites having indirect transmission and to the concurrent increase in parasites having direct transmission from host to host, such as Eimeria spp. and Passalurus ambiguus (Rinaldi et al., 2007).

Many parasites can infest rabbits and so affect their health, production, and may lead to their death. P. ambiguus (Rudolphi, 1819) is a common oxyurid (pinworm) found in the cecum and colon of domestic, wild, and laboratory rabbits (Owen, 1972). P. ambiguus is the species most likely to be adapted to intensive breeding fanns, as its infective larvae do not leave the egg until it has been ingested by the host (Grice and Prociv, 1993). Infestation occurs after the ingestion of eggs, containing infect ive larvae. oflen during grooming or coprophagy (Boag et aL, 2001).Autoinfection is common through ingestion of eggs with food (Praag,2009) P.ambiguus causes gastrointestinal disturbance and it is found in feces of adult rabbits only when they are raised on cages with slatted floor (Nosal ct al., 2006). Death, poor condition and unsatisfactol) breeding performance in a rabbit colony were attributed to infestation with P. ambiguus (Duwel and Brech, 1981). Coccidiosis is one of the most important parasitic diseases attacking rabbits and causes great losses especially when breeding a large number in a narrow place that