[Clinical findings observed in rabbits, meat type, infected experimentally by Cystoisospora felis (Wenyon, 1923) Frenkel, 1977 (Apicomplexa: Cystoisosporinae)].
Twenty four rabbits type meat, cross-breed of White New Zealand and California, of both sexes, with age of 58 days old, and average weight of 1,586 g were used. Than, they were divided in three groups of eight rabbits each. The first group was inoculated orally, in two serial days, with 10(6) sporulated oocysts of Cystoisospora felis per animal, second group was considered per feed, and thirty group was left as control. Clinical signs as body weight, feed consumption, rectal temperature, and breathing frequency were taken daily. Carcasses weights were taking at 2, 4, 6, 8, 9, 16, 22 and 29 days after infection (DAI) when they were posted. In the first DAI, anorexia, slow movements, low percent of food consumption (85.76%), and of alimentary conversion were observed. Difference of 3.52% in the food consumption was observed between control and infected animals. The inoculated rabbits had high temperatures in the first DAI in comparison to controls and per fed animals (p<0.01) at 2nd and at 4th DAI. In relationship to the weight gain in the 1st week the carcasses of the infected rabbits had minimal difference in comparison to control animals. As conclusion, cystoisosporosis, beside clinical signs, can be interfered in the development of the rabbit.
da Costa
Paulo S
PS
Departamento de Parasitologia Animal, Instituto de Veterinária da Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro, Km 7 da BR 465, Seropédica, RJ, Brazil 23890000. paulo.soares@sadia.com.br
Munhoz
Alexandre D
AD
Flausino
Walter
W
Lopes
Carlos Wilson G
CW
D000818:Animals; D016782:Apicomplexa; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D011529:Protozoan Infections, Animal / Q000175:diagnosis*; D011817:Rabbits