Biology Reference
In-Depth Information
Abbreviations
CIA Carbon immunoassay test
PCR Polymerase chain reaction
MR
Rabbit meat
OB
Old breeder
8.1
Introduction
Encephalitozoon spp. are obligate intracellular microsporidia that occur in a wide
range of hosts; E. cuniculi affects mainly rabbits. In the European hare, infection
by E. intestinalis and E. hellem has been described only once in Belgium
(De Bosschere et al. 2007 ). Infection occurs either by ingestion or inhalation of spores
or by transplacental transmission from mother to fetus (Harcourt-Brown 2004 ).
Encephalitozoon spp. are also considered opportunistic pathogens in humans
with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) or immunosuppression (Zender
et al. 1989 ; Deplazes et al. 1996 ; Wasson and Peper 2000 ). Three species have been
revealed as human pathogens: E. cuniculi , E. hellem , and E. intestinalis , morpho-
logically indistinguishable from each other. In lagomorphs, E. cuniculi infection is
mainly diagnosed serologically.
However, the presence of antibodies only indicates chronic infections with
E. cuniculi , and in vivo diagnosis in rabbits is rather difficult. Diagnosis is usually
achieved by a combination of clinical, neurological, and ophthalmologic examina-
tion, supported by serological tests and differential diagnosis with other diseases.
Detection of E. cuniculi by PCR appears to be a very sensitive and specific
method to confirm infection. However, this technique is not yet widely accepted
(or well established) for diagnostics in rabbits with alleged encephalitozoonosis
(K
unzel et al. 2008 ). This is probably attributable to the fact that, in live animals,
PCR appears to be too laborious and economically expensive for routine practice;
thus, it is used mainly for research purposes in slaughtered rabbits.
The goal of the present survey was to investigate the presence of E. cuniculi in
the breeding of rabbits and hares in Sardinia through a multidisciplinary approach
including serology, histopathology, and biomolecular techniques.
8.2 Materials and Methods
The survey was carried out in Sardinia (Italy) at nine rabbit farms ( Oryctogalus
cuniculus ) and two herds of hares ( Lepus capensis mediterraneus ). A total of 378
slaughtered rabbits were examined serologically, of which 261 were animals for
meat (MR) and 117 were breeders at the end of their careers (OB) of 3 years. All
animals were of the California/New Zealand genotype/line or their hybrids, while
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