Search Results (12)

Encephalitozoon cuniculi is a microsporidian widely spread in rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) and other species, including humans, causative of neurological disorders or remaining in a latent state in the host organism. The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of E. cuniculi in rabbits located in the North-Western region of Romania, and to run a comparative diagnosis for E. cuniculi by multiple methods. A total of 381 rabbits were included, originating from households, family farms and wildlife, which were subjected to serological and/or molecular genetics diagnostic methods for E. cuniculi identification. Seropositivity of 43.02% (151/351) was obtained by ELISA, together with a 45.45% (110/242) prevalence from urine, feces and organs by nested PCR. Additionally, a prevalence of 48.39% (15/31) was identified by a comparative real-time PCR (qPCR). The urinary bladder is firstly reported for molecular E. cuniculi diagnosis, with a positivity of 30.56% (11/36) by nested PCR. Despite the disagreement between the diagnostic methods, the present results highlight the level of pathogen dissemination among rabbits in North-Western Romania that represents a risk for not only rabbits and other animals, but also for the general public by its zoonotic character. Full article

This study investigated common diagnoses from surgical biopsies of domestic rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculi) in Taiwan and examined the role of leporipoxvirus in tumor pathogenesis. Biopsy specimens from 70 rabbits collected between 2014 and 2023 were retrospectively analyzed, yielding 85 diagnoses. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was performed to detect leporipoxvirus in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissues diagnosed with fibroma, fibrosarcoma, or myxosarcoma. The most commonly affected systems were the integumentary (n = 41) and reproductive (n = 36) systems. Common integumentary tumors included fibrosarcomas (n = 12), trichoblastomas (n = 8), mammary gland tumors (n = 5), and fibromas (n = 4). In the reproductive system, the most common lesions were uterine adenocarcinomas (n = 16), uterine endometrial cystic hyperplasia and hypertrophy (n = 5), and uterine adenomyosis (n = 4). The 15 cases of fibroma, fibrosarcoma, and myxosarcoma were tested for leporipoxvirus using PCR. No viral sequences were detected in these tumors. This study identified the common diagnoses from rabbit biopsy specimens and found no leporipoxvirus infection in samples of fibrosarcoma and fibroma. This is the first study on tumors in pet rabbit biopsies and the first in Taiwan to investigate leporipoxvirus infection, providing valuable insights for future diagnosis and management. Full article

Encephalitozoon cuniculi infection in rabbits represents a true challenge in both diagnosis and treatment of the disease. This study aims to describe and analyze all methods of identifying the presence of the microsporidian in a rabbit through antemortem and postmortem methods. The patient manifested clinical signs of vestibular disease and mild renal symptoms with no significant improvement under treatment, which finally led to euthanasia. Serological and molecular tests confirmed positivity for E. cuniculi in serum and urine, feces, brain, kidney and urinary bladder, respectively. Histopathological findings showed suggestive inflammatory lesions of encephalitis and nephritis and no changes in the eye globe and liver, but with no identification of microsporidian spores. This is the first complete case report of E. cuniculi in a rabbit in Romania, as well as the first report of urinary bladder molecular testing with a positive result, which facilitates for further diagnosis exploration for rabbits. Full article

In 2022–2023, the first survey of clinicians regarding Encephalitozoon cuniculi infection of rabbits was undertaken. The purpose was to assess the current worldwide knowledge of clinicians regarding influence of breed and age, clinical presentations, use of various diagnostic tools, and treatment regimens and to explore how responses may differ by geographic location. Identifying mostly as exotic animal clinicians, 339 respondents participated, with nearly half from the United States and the remainder from 35 other countries. Neurological signs were most consistently reported as associated with Encephalitozoon cuniculi and the most recurrent clinical case presentation. Other responses showed differences by geographic location. For example, age predilection for disease varied, with 71.1% of international respondents indicating that infection was more common in young rabbits versus 28.9% who suggested it was more frequent in older rabbits. This was significantly different (p = 0.001) from the information from respondents from the United States, where 48.0% indicated that younger rabbits had an increased incidence versus 52.0% who indicated that older age increased occurrence. While some differences may be related to the practice composition and the training level of respondents, many responses were in alignment with the existing literature. Future inquiries should focus more on these discrepancies to aid in generating guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of this infectious disease. Full article

Encephalitozoon cuniculi and Encephalitozoon hellem are fungus-related, obligate intracellular pathogens belonging to the microsporidia. Both microorganisms occur in mammals, birds and even humans, thus revealing a zoonotic potential. Knowledge of their relevance in wild rabbits is very limited so far. Thus, the aim of the present study was to investigate the occurrence of E. cuniculi and E. hellem in wild rabbit populations in southern Germany (Bavaria). Therefore, blood and organ samples (brain/kidney) of 158 wild rabbits were investigated by immunofluorescence and PCR-based assays. Antibodies to E. cuniculi were detected in 24 of the 158 (15.2%) wild rabbits, while DNA of E. cuniculi was found in 7 (4.4%) and DNA of E. hellem was found in 3 (1.9%). Sequencing identified E. cuniculi genotype 1. This study provides the first E. cuniculi genotype determination in free-living wild rabbits worldwide and the first evidence of E. hellem in rabbits worldwide. Wild rabbits should, therefore, be regarded as a reservoir for both pathogens and, on the basis of molecular evidence from kidney tissue and presumed urine excretion, also as a source of infection for E. cuniculi for animals and humans. Full article

An 8-year-old rabbit presented with a 5-day history of acute difficulty in walking. Neurological examination revealed tetraparesis, proprioceptive deficits in both pelvic limbs and the right thoracic limb, decreased withdrawal reflex on the right thoracic limb and hyperreflexia in the pelvic limbs. A cervico-thoracic (C6-T2) localization was suspected. Computer tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans were performed, revealing a right dorsolateral extradural lesion at the C6-C7 intervertebral disc space. Additionally, meningeal and paravertebral contrast enhancement was observed on MRI, while periosteal reaction was evident at the right C6-C7 facet joint on CT. The findings were primarily consistent with spinal cord compression due to the presence of extruded disc material. Following conservative treatment failure, a right-sided C6-C7 hemilaminectomy was performed to remove the compression and sample the extradural material. Histological examination confirmed the presence of degenerated and partially mineralized disc material mixed with granulation tissue. This is the first reported case of cervical disc extrusion in a rabbit, confirmed by histological examination. Full article

Encephalitozoon cuniculi is a microsporidian, domestic rabbits being the main host. The disease can be acute or subclinical, but treatment options are limited and usually with unrewarding results; therefore, diagnosis and prevention of encephalitozoonosis in rabbits are of the utmost importance. This study aims to obtain the first preliminary information of the prevalence of E. cuniculi in the north-western region of Romania. A total of 176 rabbits were clinically examined and 2 mL of blood was sampled from each. An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit by Medicago (Medicago, Uppsala, Sweden) on the resulted blood serum was utilized. Statistical analysis of the results was conducted using the EpiInfo 2000 software (CDC, Atlanta, GA, USA). A total prevalence of 39.2% (69/176) was identified, with statistically significant differences in relation to the rabbits’ clinical status, age, season of sampling, breeding system, body condition score and county of origin; the different family farms tested also had a statistically significant difference. This study gives the first preliminary information on this pathogen distribution on Romania’s territory, but further studies need to be performed on larger regions to declare the prevalence in the country. Full article

To improve the global optimization ability and convergence speed of the swarm intelligence algorithm, we proposed a new swarm intelligence optimization algorithm, namely the Oryctolagus cuniculus algorithm. This includes five mechanisms: the determination of safety zones, the cave escape, the agglomeration of Oryctolagus cuniculi, the maintenance of the Oryctolagus cuniculus king, and the zone competition. Each solution is represented by each Oryctolagus cuniculus’s position (including zone number and specific location number). The grass density and safety index at the location of the Oryctolagus cuniculus represents its fitness value. The determination of safety zones implies that predators such as eagles hunt Oryctolagus cuniculi in dangerous zones, and the zone without predators is considered a safety zone. The cave escape refers to the act of Oryctolagus cuniculi using a connected cave system to flee from a dangerous zone and reach a secure zone, thereby evading potential predators. We select the Oryctolagus cuniculus with higher fitness values as the king of each zone, and the Oryctolagus cuniculi gather towards the Oryctolagus cuniculus king. This mechanism ensures that Oryctolagus cuniculus mainly searches in zones with abundant grass and quickly finds the optimal solution. In the maintenance of the Oryctolagus cuniculus king, we choose the one with higher fitness values as the Oryctolagus cuniculus king. Zone competition is induced by an increase in the number of Oryctolagus cuniculi in zones with abundant grass by ordering the fitness values of each zone, and vice versa. We apply the Oryctolagus cuniculus algorithm to the inversion method of the asteroid spectra reflectance template. The experimental results show that compared with artificial rabbit optimization, this algorithm has a faster rate of convergence and better solution, effectively screens the reflectance template, and improves the Doppler difference velocimetry accuracy. In addition, the application of the Oryctolagus cuniculus algorithm to the knapsack problem also performs effectively. Full article

Encephalitozoon cuniculi is a microsporidial parasite that primarily infects domestic rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus). It is the causative agent of encephalitozoonosis, a disease with an internationally recognized seroprevalence among rabbits. This study determines the presence, clinical manifestation, and serological status of encephalitozoonosis in pet rabbits in Slovenia using various diagnostic procedures. From 2017 to 2021, 224 pet rabbit sera were collected and tested for encephalitozoonosis with the indirect immunofluorescence assay. Immunoglobulin M (IgM) and immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies against E. cuniculi were confirmed in 160 (65.6%) cases. Most seropositive rabbits suffered from neurological clinical signs or signs of gastrointestinal disorders such as recurrent hypomotilities, chronic weight loss, cachexia, or anorexia, and fewer showed clinical signs related to the urinary system or phacoclastic uveitis. A quarter of the positively tested rabbits presented without clinical signs. Hematological and biochemical blood analysis confirmed that seropositive animals had elevated globulin and deviated albumin levels in comparison to the normal reference values of non-infected animals. Furthermore, rabbits with neurological clinical signs showed statistically significant higher levels of globulins and total protein. Sixty-eight whole-body radiographs and thirty-two abdominal ultrasound reports were analyzed, looking for changes in the shape or size of the urinary bladder, presence of urinary sludge or uroliths, and any abnormalities related to the kidneys (shape, size, or nephrolites). The results suggest that neurological defects in the urinary bladder caused by E. cuniculi lead to a distended urinary bladder and consequently dysuria, incontinence, urine scalding, and sludgy urine. Full article

Enterocytozoon bieneusi and Encephalitozoon spp. are microsporidia with zoonotic potential that have been identified in humans, as well as in a large group of wild and domestic animals. Several wildlife species have been studied as reservoirs of zoonotic microsporidia in mainland Spain, including the European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus). Due to a lack of data on microsporidia infection in wildlife on the Canary Islands, the aim of this work was to analyze the prevalence and identify the species of microsporidia in rabbits in Tenerife. Between 2015 and 2017, a total of 50 fecal samples were collected from rabbits in eight municipalities of Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain. Seven of the fifty samples (14%) were amplified using nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) targeting the partial sequence of the 16S rRNA gene, the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region, and the partial sequence of the 5.8S rRNA gene. Sanger sequencing reveals the presence of Encephalitozoon cuniculi genotype I in two samples (4%), and undescribed microsporidia species in five samples (10%). This study constitutes the first molecular detection and genotyping of E. cuniculi in rabbits in Spain. Full article

Encephalitozoon cuniculi is a eukaryote, unicellular, spore-forming, obligate intracellular microorganism of the phylum Microsporidia, with domestic rabbits as its main host. Another important species in which this pathogen has been identified are humans, the infection being therefore called a ”zoonosis”. The transmission takes place via the horizontal route or the vertical route, and cell-mediated immunity plays the biggest role in the infected hosts’ protection. Encephalitozoonosis can manifest itself as an acute infection, with neurological signs, renal signs, and ocular lesions, or as a chronic or subclinical infection, which is usually the case for asymptomatic carriers. The diagnostic techniques usually carried out are histological examination, serological tests, and molecular genetic techniques. The treatment of encephalitozoonosis is usually symptomatic, with unrewarding results, and prevention methods include periodical serological screening, prophylactic administration of fenbendazole, and maintenance of a clean environment. The purpose of this article is to review the current data regarding the pathogenesis, host immunity, clinical signs, diagnostic methods, treatment, and prevention methods of encephalitozoonosis in the domestic rabbit, as well as to analyze the prevalence of this disease in different countries of the world. Full article

Microsporidia are obligate intracellular protist-like fungal pathogens that infect a broad range of animal species, including humans. This study aimed to assess the presence of zoonotic microsporidia (Enterocytozoon bieneusi, Encephalitozoon intestinalis, Encephalitozoon hellem, and Encephalitozoon cuniculi) in organ meats of European wild rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) and Iberian hare (Lepus granatensis) consumed by humans in Spain. Between July 2015 and December 2018, kidney samples from 383 wild rabbits and kidney and brain tissues from 79 Iberian hares in southern Spain were tested by species-specific PCR for the detection of microsporidia DNA. Enterocytozoon bieneusi infection was confirmed in three wild rabbits (0.8%; 95% CI: 0.0–1.7%) but not in hares (0.0%; 95% CI: 0.0–4.6%), whereas E. intestinalis DNA was found in one wild rabbit (0.3%; 95% CI: 0.0–0.8%) and three Iberian hares (3.8%; 95% CI: 0.0–8.0%). Neither E. hellem nor E. cuniculi infection were detected in the 462 (0.0%; 95% CI: 0.0–0.8%) lagomorphs analyzed. The absence of E. hellem and E. cuniculi infection suggests a low risk of zoonotic foodborne transmission from these wild lagomorph species in southern Spain. To the authors’ knowledge, this is the first report of E. intestinalis infection in wild rabbits and Iberian hares. The presence of E. bieneusi and E. intestinalis in organ meats from wild lagomorphs can be of public health concern. Additional studies are required to determine the real prevalence of these parasites in European wild rabbit and Iberian hare. Full article