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An Investigation of the Route and Progression of Encephalitozoon cuniculi Infection in Adult Rabbits
Author(s) -
COX JOHN C.,
HAMILTON ROSS C.,
ATTWOOD HAROLD D.
Publication year - 1979
Publication title -
the journal of protozoology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.067
H-Index - 77
eISSN - 1550-7408
pISSN - 0022-3921
DOI - 10.1111/j.1550-7408.1979.tb02776.x
Subject(s) - encephalitozoon cuniculi , antibody , kidney , lung , inoculation , biology , urine , immunology , medicine , microbiology and biotechnology , endocrinology , spore , microsporidia
SYNOPSIS Rabbits infected either orally or intratracheally with cell culture‐grown Encephalitozoon cuniculi were monitored regularly for serum antibody levels and E. cuniculi in the urine. Their responses were compared with intravenously inoculated and uninoculated control rabbits. All rabbits receiving E. cuniculi developed serum antibodies, generally within 3 weeks, and excreted E. cuniculi by 6 weeks. In the acute stage of infection, the organs most affected were lung, kidney and liver; the brain and gut were unaffected. However, during chronic infection, the brain, kidney, and heart were the only organs found to be involved. Antibody levels were very high at this stage. Thus both the oral and tracheal routes may be normal routes of infection with E. cuniculi in adult rabbits.