Coccidiosis in Lab Animals

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Questions and Answers

What is the primary cause of pneumonia in rabbits?

Pasteurella multocida infection (correct)

Chronic rhinitis

Snuffles

Pasteurella haemolytica infection

Which of the following is a clinical sign of chronic rhinitis in rabbits?

Abortion in breeding does

Sneezing (correct)

High temperature

Fast and shallow breathing

What is the outcome of rabbits infected with Pasteurella haemolytica?

Rabbits always die within 12 hours

Rabbits usually recover from the infection

Rabbits may have periodic flare-ups of the cold (correct)

Rabbits remain asymptomatic

Which of the following is a characteristic of snuffles in rabbits?

Mucoid to cream coloured purulent nasal discharge Signup and view all the answers

What is a common complication of pneumonia in rabbits?

Stunted growth Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a sign of septicemia in rabbits?

Extreme weakness and high temperature Signup and view all the answers

What is a common location of abscesses in rabbits?

Neck, dewlaps, ribs and back Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a sign of mastitis in rabbits?

Swollen, bluish glands in lactating does Signup and view all the answers

What is the causative agent of coccidiosis in rabbits?

Protozoa of the genus Eimeria Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a clinical sign of liver coccidiosis in rabbits?

Weakness and liver damage Signup and view all the answers

What is the typical age of rabbits that get infected with coccidiosis?

Young rabbits, just after weaning Signup and view all the answers

What is the characteristic post-mortem finding of intestinal coccidiosis in rabbits?

Soft contents of the intestine with pinhead-sized lesions Signup and view all the answers

Which disease is a differential diagnosis of coccidiosis in rabbits?

Listeriosis Signup and view all the answers

What is the characteristic of the lesions in the liver of rabbits infected with Eimeria stiedae?

Small, greyish white nodules Signup and view all the answers

What is the common route of infection for coccidiosis in rabbits?

Gastrointestinal tract Signup and view all the answers

What is the characteristic of the intestinal wall in advanced cases of intestinal coccidiosis?

Thickened and pale Signup and view all the answers

What is the finding in the lungs of a rabbit with pneumonia?

White or yellow purulent material in the bronchi Signup and view all the answers

What is the characteristic of mastitis in rabbits?

Swollen mammary gland with red to blue discoloration and congestion Signup and view all the answers

What is the common cause of metritis in rabbits?

Bacteria such as E.coli, Pseudomonas, Listeria, and Proteus Signup and view all the answers

What is the characteristic of snuffles in rabbits?

Inflammation and necrosis of the nasal passages Signup and view all the answers

What is the finding in the abdominal cavity of a rabbit with peritonitis?

Yellow-white deposits on the peritoneum Signup and view all the answers

What is the characteristic of septicemia in rabbits?

Hemorrhages on body fat and heart muscles Signup and view all the answers

What is the common cause of abscesses in rabbits?

Actinomyces pyogenes Signup and view all the answers

What is the characteristic of arthritis in rabbits?

Cloudy fluid and pus present in the leg joints Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Coccidiosis

Caused by protozoa of the genus Eimeria, with two forms: intestinal and hepatic
Infection occurs through the gastrointestinal tract
Typically affects young rabbits, just after weaning
Etiology:
- Liver coccidiosis: caused by Eimeria stiedae
- Intestinal coccidiosis: caused by E. magna, E. perforans, and E. irresidua
Clinical signs:
- Loss of appetite and emaciation
- Bristly and matted fur
- Pale mucous membrane
- Blood and mucosa in feces
- Anemia
- Diarrhea in terminal stage, leading to body dehydration and pot belly
- Death
Postmortem findings:
- Hepatic form: liver swelling, yellowing of mucous membranes, and urination
- Intestinal coccidiosis: soft intestinal contents, pinhead-sized lesions, and greyish-white flakes in the intestinal wall

Differential Diagnosis

Pasteurellosis
Tuberculosis
Pseudotuberculosis
Listeriosis
Salmonellosis

Pasteurellosis (Snuffles, Pneumonia)

Caused by Pasteurella species, including P. haemolytica and P. multocida
Clinical signs:
- Chronic rhinitis (colds):
  - Sneezing
  - Clear, watery, or thick-yellow nasal discharge
  - Soiled, discolored fur on the inner side of the front legs
- Snuffles (contagious catarrh):
  - Frequent "snuffles" and forceful loud sneezing
  - Mucoid to cream-colored purulent nasal discharge
  - Purulent conjunctivitis and cloudy eyes
- Pneumonia:
  - Elevated temperature
  - Dullness and noisy forceful breathing
  - Bluish ears and eyes
- Peritonitis:
  - High temperature
  - Fast and shallow breathing
  - Reluctance to move due to sore abdomen
- Septicemia:
  - Dead rabbit as the first sign
  - Extreme weakness and high temperature
  - Difficult breathing
  - Bluish discoloration of the ears and skin
- Abscesses:
  - Abscesses on the neck, dewlaps, ribs, and back
  - Abscesses in the mammary gland of a doe
- Eye and middle ear infection:
  - Partial or complete blindness
  - Pronounced head tilt (may fall over easily)
  - Inability to right themselves
- Mastitis:
  - Swollen, bluish glands in lactating does
- Metritis:
  - White discharge from the vulva

Postmortem Findings

Snuffles: Inflammation and necrosis of nasal passages
Pneumonia:
- Consolidated inflamed area in the lungs
- Deep red, sharply demarcated lung lesion
- Whitish purulent material in the bronchi
- Cheesy material (fibrin) on the pleura
Peritonitis:
- Yellow-white deposits (fibrin) on the peritoneum and abdominal cavity
- Abdominal organs adherent to the peritoneum and with one another
Septicemia:
- Hemorrhages on body fat and heart muscles
- Enlarged body organs
- Bluish discoloration of body tissues
Abscesses: Walled off abscesses containing white creamy cheesy pus
Eye and middle ear infection:
- Normal eye structure obliterated by white or yellow pus
- White pus in one or both middle ears
Mastitis: Swollen mammary gland with red to blue discoloration and congestion
Metritis: Distended uterus contains white pus
Arthritis: Cloudy fluid and pus present in the leg joints

Differential Diagnosis

Salmonellosis
Coccidiosis
Bacteria such as E. coli, Pseudomonas, Listeria, and Proteus
Staphylococcus aureus
Streptococcus spp
Actinomyces pyogenes

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Description

This quiz covers the causes, symptoms, and effects of coccidiosis, a disease caused by protozoa of the genus Eimeria, affecting lab animals, especially young rabbits.