Symptoms of Rabbit Coccidiosis: Types and Recognition

Section 1: Symptoms and Types of Rabbit Coccidiosis

1. Intestinal Type: Clinically, affected rabbits may exhibit symptoms such as congested intestinal mucosa, which can lead to bleeding spots. The stomach lining may also be inflamed, and the gastrointestinal tract may become bloated. The cecum may show white nodules, particularly around the ileocecal valve, and the mesenteric lymph nodes may swell. The bladder may accumulate cloudy urine, and the mucosa may slough off. In acute cases, the rabbit's muscle color may pale, and the blood may become thin.

2. Hepatic Type: The liver of affected rabbits becomes significantly enlarged, with pale yellow spots visible on the liver surface. Cutting into these spots reveals thick, pale yellow fluid, or hard nodules. Microscopic examination of the contents often reveals a high number of coccidian oocysts. Additionally, the gallbladder may dilate, and the rabbit's bile may contain oocysts, along with symptoms of abdominal effusion.

3. Mixed Type: This type involves the presence of both intestinal and hepatic symptoms, making the condition more severe.

Section 2: Prevention and Treatment of Rabbit Coccidiosis

Rabbit coccidiosis can be initially diagnosed based on the epidemiology of the disease, clinical symptoms in the affected rabbits, and pathological changes observed during postmortem examination. However, definitive diagnosis requires microscopic examination. Treatment primarily focuses on anthelmintic therapy, though it is most effective in the early stages of the disease. Therefore, prevention is more crucial than treatment.

1. Prevention Methods:

① Maintain strict hygiene and cleanliness: Regularly clean the rabbit shed, especially areas frequented by the rabbits. Disinfect the rabbit cages with flame and use a 10% ammonia solution to disinfect the cages, sheds, and utensils. Place the rabbits' feeders and waterers in direct sunlight for disinfection or use a dedicated disinfectant.

② Construct the rabbit shed in a dry, sunny location. If a doe is found to have coccidiosis, she should not be used for breeding purposes. When introducing new stock or purchasing feed, ensure they come from areas free of coccidiosis.

③ Separate different types of rabbits for breeding, categorizing them based on age, gender, and physical condition. Isolate recovered rabbits for separate housing.

④ Plan rabbit breeding seasons carefully to avoid weaning during the rainy season. It is generally recommended that a single doe breed 5 to 6 litters.

⑤ Drug prevention: Administer diclazuril solution mixed with water for rabbits to drink as a preventive measure. This should be done longterm, with a maximum of 6 months of continuous use. The dosage is 0.1ml to 0.2ml of the drug per liter of water. For detailed instructions, refer to the product leaflet.

2. Treatment Measures:

① Feed rabbits a mixture of Baycox for 4 days, with the dosage as per the product instructions.

② Feed rabbits a mixture of salinomycin for 5 days, with the dosage as per the product instructions.

Dr. Oxygen Pet has shared the symptoms and types of rabbit coccidiosis. As a reminder to all rabbit owners, it is crucial to implement effective coccidiosis prevention measures, as the cure rate for this disease is relatively low.