Etiopathogenesis and epizootiology of coccidiosis in rabbits

: Studies were carried out on the etiology and epizootiology of rabbit coccidiosis. Three experimental groups of rabbits were infected with intestinal, liver, and mixed intestinal and liver coccidia. The shedding of oocysts and the clinical course of the disease were followed up, with description of the morphologic changes and the results of the biochemical examinations of the blood. A total of eight species of coccidia were established in all cases--Eimeria magna, E. intestinalis, E. piriformis, E. media, E. exigua, E. irresidua, E. perforans, and E. stidae. Predominating were E. magna, E. perforans, and E. irresidua. Results showed that all age groups of rabbits were susceptible to the coccidial infection, mostly the weaned bunnies and young ones aged 2-3 months. It is admitted that under the present conditions of this country's rabbit raising coccidiosis is a disease of a seasonal character. Biochemical investigations of blood taken from experimentally infected rabbits revealed that the changes in the activity of GOT and alkaline phosphatase and in the amount of bilirubin were most pronounced.