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Microsporidia (Encephalitozoon cuniculi) in wild rabbits in Australia
Author(s) -
THOMAS C.,
FINN M.,
TWIGG L.,
DEPLAZES P.,
THOMPSON RCA
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
australian veterinary journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.382
H-Index - 59
eISSN - 1751-0813
pISSN - 0005-0423
DOI - 10.1111/j.1751-0813.1997.tb15658.x
Subject(s) - encephalitozoon cuniculi , biology , serology , antibody , microbiology and biotechnology , microsporidia , immunofluorescence , virology , veterinary medicine , immunology , spore , medicine
Objective To determine the prevalence of infection with Encephalitozoon cuniculi i n wild rabbit populations in Western Australia, and to isolate the organism from seropositive rabbits. Design Serological screening of wild and clinically affected domestic rabbit populations. Sample population Eighty‐one wild rabbits from southwestern Western Australia and 29 laboratory rabbits. Procedure Indirect immunofluorescence antibody technique and in‐vitro amplification of parasite isolates in fibroblast cultures. Results Of the 81 wild rabbits and 29 laboratory rabbits, 20 and 22 respectively, had antibodies to E cuniculi . E cuniculi from the urine of one seropositive laboratory rabbit and from brain and kidney tissues of eight and five seropositive laboratory and wild rabbits respectively were isolated in fibroblast cultures. ConclusionE cuniculi infection has been shown for the first time to be prevalent in wild rabbits in Australia. Techniques have been developed for the isolation and culture of the causative agent. Comparative studies can now be undertaken to determine risk factors for clinical disease in domestic rabbits and the relationship among E cuniculi isolates from wild and domestic rabbits.