Department of Immunology, Veterinary Research Institute, Hudcova 70, 621 00 Brno, Czech Republic.
Vet Parasitol. 2010 May 28;170(1-2):143-8. doi: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2010.01.029. Epub 2010 Jan 28.
Encephalitozoon cuniculi is an obligate intracellular pathogen that has wide host distribution, but primary affects rabbits. This study presents a seroepidemiological study of E. cuniculi infection in 500 pet rabbits from the Czech Republic using ELISA capable of measuring IgM and IgG antibodies. Specific IgM antibodies, reflecting acute, reactivated infection or reinfection, were detected in 32.4% of all rabbits. IgG antibodies indicating chronic infection, were presented in 68.0% of all rabbits. The highest detection rate of IgM (54.4%) and IgG (86.1%) antibodies was ascertained in rabbits with neurological symptoms (n=79, group I). In rabbits with renal disorders (n=47, group II) 36.2% animals were specific IgM and 80.9% IgG positive. Out of 9 rabbits with ocular disorders (group III), 44.4% were positive for anti-E. cuniculi IgM and 77.8% for IgG antibodies. In rabbits with multiple signs (neurological and renal or ocular, n=16, group IV), 43.8% animals were specific IgM and 68.8% IgG positive. Out of 287 rabbits with other disease (group V), 26.5% were positive for anti-E. cuniculi IgM and 64.1% for IgG antibodies. However, the high presence of IgM (24.2%) and IgG (51.6%) antibodies was detected in clinically healthy rabbits (n=62, group VI). Toxoplasma gondii infection should be considered as a differential diagnosis for neurological and ocular disorders in rabbits. Using ELISA, 19.2% from all rabbits were positive for specific anti-T. gondii IgG. The highest seropositivity was detected in group III (44.4%). Simultaneous testing of IgM and IgG specific antibodies give an indication of the infection status. Presence of IgM antibodies is indicative for active infection with requirement to institute proper antimicrosporidial therapy. As active infection was detected in considerably high numbers of rabbits with clinical signs that are not usually associated with E. cuniculi, and even in asymptomatic rabbits, detection of both isotypes of specific antibodies should be a routine part of a health check in rabbits.
兔脑炎原虫是一种专性细胞内病原体，宿主分布广泛，但主要影响兔子。本研究使用能够检测 IgM 和 IgG 抗体的 ELISA 对来自捷克共和国的 500 只宠物兔进行了兔脑炎原虫感染的血清流行病学研究。在所有兔子中，32.4%检测到了特异性 IgM 抗体，反映了急性、再激活感染或再感染。所有兔子中 68.0%呈现出 IgG 抗体，表明慢性感染。在有神经症状的兔子（n=79，第 I 组）中，IgM（54.4%）和 IgG（86.1%）抗体的检测率最高。在有肾脏疾病的兔子（n=47，第 II 组）中，36.2%的动物特异性 IgM 阳性，80.9%的 IgG 阳性。在有眼部疾病的 9 只兔子中（第 III 组），44.4%的兔子抗兔脑炎原虫 IgM 阳性，77.8%的兔子抗兔脑炎原虫 IgG 阳性。在有多种症状（神经和肾脏或眼部，n=16，第 IV 组）的兔子中，43.8%的动物特异性 IgM 阳性，68.8%的 IgG 阳性。在有其他疾病的 287 只兔子中（第 V 组），26.5%的兔子抗兔脑炎原虫 IgM 阳性，64.1%的兔子抗兔脑炎原虫 IgG 阳性。然而，在 62 只临床健康的兔子中（第 VI 组），检测到了较高的 IgM（24.2%）和 IgG（51.6%）抗体。使用 ELISA，所有兔子中 19.2%的兔子特异性抗 T. gondii IgG 阳性。第 III 组（44.4%）的血清阳性率最高。同时检测特异性 IgM 和 IgG 抗体可以指示感染状态。IgM 抗体的存在表明存在需要进行适当抗微孢子虫治疗的活动感染。由于在有临床症状的兔子中检测到相当数量的活动感染，这些兔子的症状通常与兔脑炎原虫无关，甚至在无症状的兔子中也检测到了这两种同种型的特异性抗体，因此在兔子的健康检查中应常规检测这两种抗体。
