title: Molecular diagnosis of Eimeria stiedae in hepatic tissue of experimentally infected rabbits.
abstract: The early detection of Eimeria stiedae in the hepatic tissue of experimentally infected rabbits was investigated using molecular assay. Forty 6-week-old male New Zealand rabbits were divided into two groups. Group A (30 animals) was infected with 2.5 × 10(4) sporulated oocysts of E. stiedae per animal on Day 0 and Group B (10 animals) was used as the uninfected controls. Three animals from Group A and one from Group B were sacrificed at 0, 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21, 24 and 27 days post infection (PI). Gross and microscopic post-mortem findings were recorded. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) of the E. stiedae internal transcribed spacer 1 genomic region was conducted on blood, liver tissue, and feces from the Group A experimentally infected animals. Macroscopically, the liver showed irregular yellowish white nodules pathognomonic to E. stiedae infection beginning on Day 15 PI. Hepatomegaly and ascites were obvious from Day 21-24 PI. The presence of different E. stiedae schizonts and gametocytes in the histopathological sections of the biliary epithelium were evident on Day 15 PI. The E. stiedae PCR was first positive in liver tissues on Day 12 and in fecal samples on Day 18 PI, but the blood samples were negative. In conclusion, the PCR can be used for early diagnosis and control of E. stiedae schizonts before shedding of the oocysts in feces.
authors.affiliation: Animal Health Research, Beni- Suef, Egypt.
authors.forename: Khaled M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Hassan
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Beni-Suef University, Beni-Suef, 62511, Egypt.
authors.forename: Waleed M
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: Arafa
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt.
authors.forename: Waheed M
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: Mousa
authors.affiliation: Animal Health Research, Beni- Suef, Egypt.
authors.forename: Khaled A M
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Shokier
authors.affiliation: Department of Poultry Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Beni- Suef University, Beni-Suef, 62511, Egypt.
authors.forename: Salama A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Shany
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Beni-Suef University, Beni-Suef, 62511, Egypt. Electronic address: drshawky2001@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Shawky M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Aboelhadid
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001201:Ascites / Q000662:veterinary; D001652:Bile Ducts / Q000473:pathology; D003048:Coccidiosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*; D021901:DNA, Intergenic / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood; D016054:DNA, Protozoan / Q000097:blood / Q000302:isolation & purification; D042241:Early Diagnosis; D004539:Eimeria / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology; D006529:Hepatomegaly / Q000662:veterinary; D006965:Hyperplasia / Q000662:veterinary; D008099:Liver / Q000469:parasitology* / Q000473:pathology; D008109:Liver Diseases, Parasitic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*; D008297:Male; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000662:veterinary; D011817:Rabbits / Q000469:parasitology*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
chemical_list: D021901:DNA, Intergenic; D016054:DNA, Protozoan
keywords: Early diagnosis; Eimeria stiedae; Experimental infection; PCR; Rabbit