Coccidiosis in rabbits is caused by intestinal or liver parasites, coccidia of the genus eimeria. Up to 25 species of eimeria coccidia have been observed in rabbits. Young animals, especially weaned rabbits, are primarily susceptible to coccidiosis caused by intestinal eimeria species. Liver coccidiosis usually affects rabbits of all ages. Adult rabbits most often act as carriers and are the source of infection.
Rabbit coccidiosis coccidia infect the lining of the intestine or liver. The parasite multiplies extensively in these sites and then leaves the body in faeces. The faeces then contaminate the water or feed. A rabbit becomes infected with sporulated oocysts* if it directly ingests food and water contaminated with faeces or whole faeces from another infected rabbit. Environmental hygiene is therefore very important and feeders with water containers should be designed to keep contamination to a minimum.
Clinical signs and severity of disease vary according to the species of coccidia, but also the amount of infective oocysts ingested, the immune status and nutritional status of the rabbit. In intestinal coccidia, the most common symptoms are weight loss, impaired growth parameters, hunching (a sign of pain), poor coat quality, pale mucous membranes, and decreased appetite. In case of intestinal coccidiosis, diarrhoea, dehydration and mucus with blood can be observed in the faeces. Death may occur. In young rabbits, growth retardation occurs mainly due to negative side effects on the kidneys and liver. Coccidia reduce carcass weight by more than 23 %.
The prevention of disease is proper hygiene, which has already been mentioned, checking the droppings every 3-4 months (take from the most at-risk category of rabbits at around 50 days of age) and the use of coccidiostats. Coccidiostats are often contained in ready-made compound feeds (rabbit classic forte) or can be supplied as a supplement to feeds that do not contain coccidiostats.
If an outbreak of coccidiosis occurs, fattening rabbits can be treated with a solution of sodium sulfadimidine in water (1 gram per litre of water over 3 days, repeated after 7 days). Another treatment against coccidiosis is to treat the water with baycox at 1 ml per litre of water (2 times 24 hours baycox, 2 days clean water, 2 times 24 hours baycox) or esb 3 (also 1 gram per litre of water over 3 days, repeat after 7 days). Consult your veterinarian for appropriate treatment.
Coccidia generally develop resistance to the drugs used very quickly.
Note: do not administer baycox to breeding females due to embryonic mortality. In a group system, baycox can be used from day 25 after birth. At this age, there is no longer any risk to the embryos.
And do you know the recipe for a drink to prevent coccidiosis? If not, here we present you!
Vinegar drink for the whole breed
You need:
1 liter of vinegar
1 large onion
2 cloves of garlic
Finely chop the onion and garlic and put them in a bottle of vinegar. Then leave to infuse for 14 days. Then serve at a concentration of 5 ml of the solution in 1 litre of drinking water.
*spore oocysts = developmental stage; i.E. When infective oocysts consist of four sporocysts, each containing two sporozoites
