Razavi S M, Oryan A, Rakhshandehroo E, Moshiri A, Mootabi Alavi A
Department of Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran.
Trop Biomed. 2010 Dec;27(3):470-5.
This investigation was accomplished during February to November 2008. A total of 71 wild rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) of about 5 to 12 months age were collected alive from different parts of Fars province, south of Iran. Faecal sampling was carried out directly from recti and the oocysts were isolated using sedimentation and floatation techniques and the sporulated oocyst were identified based on morphological and biological characteristics. All the rabbits were apparently healthy and showed no clinical symptoms. Twenty two rabbits (31.0%) were positive for infection with Eimeria and six species including Eimeria perforans (18.3%), Eimeria magna (16.9%), Eimeria media (14.1), Eimeria irresidua (11.2%), Eimeria flavescens (4.2%), and Eimeria coecicola (2.8%) were identified. Eighty six percent of the infected rabbits showed mixed infections with two or three Eimeria species. Lack of clinical signs could be due to the agro ecological and environmental conditions of rabbit habitats specifically dry and hot climatic features in recent years. In addition, immunity induced by long term exposure to low doses of oocysts shedded by the carrier animals probably have pivotal role in impairing parasitic developmental cycles and preventing acute coccidiosis.
本研究于2008年2月至11月完成。从伊朗南部法尔斯省的不同地区活捉了71只年龄约5至12个月的野兔（穴兔）。直接从直肠采集粪便样本，使用沉淀和浮选技术分离卵囊，并根据形态和生物学特征鉴定孢子化卵囊。所有兔子看起来都很健康，没有临床症状。22只兔子（31.0%）感染艾美耳球虫呈阳性，鉴定出6个种类，包括穿孔艾美耳球虫（18.3%）、大型艾美耳球虫（16.9%）、中型艾美耳球虫（14.1%）、残残艾美耳球虫（11.2%）、浅黄色艾美耳球虫（4.2%）和盲肠艾美耳球虫（2.8%）。86%的感染兔子表现出两种或三种艾美耳球虫的混合感染。缺乏临床症状可能是由于兔子栖息地的农业生态和环境条件，特别是近年来干燥炎热的气候特征。此外，长期接触携带动物排出的低剂量卵囊所诱导的免疫力可能在损害寄生虫发育周期和预防急性球虫病方面起关键作用。
