Q. Are the
signs exhibited by the rabbit consistent with encephalitozoonosis?
A. The
following signs have been significantly correlated with high levels of
antibody to E. cuniculi in rabbits: head tilt, nystagmus, rolling,
seizures, intraocular opacity, lens rupture and uveitis.
Q. What
does a positive antibody test for E. cuniculi mean?
A. The
rabbit has been infected with and made antibodies to E. cuniculi.
Since infection is considered to be persistent, the rabbit probably harbors
the organism in the brain and kidneys. If the infection is latent and
suppressed by the rabbit’s immune system, antibody levels may be low to
moderate. High levels of antibody usually indicate active infection.
Q. What if
the rabbit has head tilt and the E. cuniculi antibody test is
negative?
A. The head
tilt could be due to bacterial infection of the middle/inner ear, cerebral
larva migrans or cerebral vascular accident. Alternatively, the rabbit could
be immunocompromised.
Q. What
should be done if the test is positive and the rabbit appears healthy?
A. Treatment
with benzimidizoles may be helpful but could induce undesirable side
effects. The owner should be alerted for early signs of disease and
treatment initiated if any changes in behavior consistent with neurologic
disease occurs.
Q. If the
rabbit is treated for encephalitozoonosis, when will the antibody test
become negative?
A. Repeated
testing of individual rabbits positive for E. cuniculi antibodies has
shown that levels remain high for months. Rarely are antibody levels reduced
in rabbits treated with benzimidazoles.
Q. How
contagious is E. cuniculi?
A. The
spores are excreted in the urine of infected rabbits. However, transmission
occurs shortly after initial infection and is considered to be brief.
Oftentimes, one rabbit is antibody-positive, whereas a companion rabbit is
negative. Currently, there is no test for spores in the urine.
