Prevalence of rabbit hepatic coccidiosis in north west of Iran

Hepatic coccidiosis is considered as a major problem in rabbits which mortality rate may go high as a result of unhygienic maintenance with overcrowding. This study was aimed to determine abundance and pathologic changes of hepatic coccidiosis in rabbits of northwestern Iran. A total of 320 rabbits (110 New Zealand, 110 Angora, and 100 Native) in different sex and age groups were randomly selected from rabbitories in northwestern Iran. The rabbits were kept either individually in cages or in groups in floor pens. They reproduced for research and instraction. Fecal samples were collected from cages and floor pens and subjected to flotation techniques. The collected liver tissues fixed in 10% buffered formal saline, sectioned, and stained with Hematoxyline and Eosin (H&E). Results indicated that infection rate with E. stiedae was 26.87% (86/320). The prevalence of E. stiedae was significantly higher in weanling rabbits (5-8 months) (9.69%, 31/320) than other age groups. There was no significant difference in the prevalence of E. stiedae between male and female rabbits. At necropsy, numerous and scattered white nodules about 0.1 to 0.5 cm in diameter were observed on the liver surface. Histopathological lesions included hyperplasia of the bile duct epithelium with different developmental stages of coccidian agents. Granuloma tissues encircle the bile duct with infiltration of inflammatory cells. It was concluded that hepatic coccidiosis was common in Iranian rabbits of the region and with proper management and strict hygine and sanitation can effectively control the rate of infection in the rabbitories.