title: Encephalitozoon cuniculi in rabbits: Serological screening and histopathological findings.
abstract: Serological prevalence of E. cuniculi infection was assessed in 183 rabbits from central Italy. In seropositive deceased rabbits, histopathological lesions were also evaluated. Sera from 118 rabbits from 6 intensive farms, 10 rabbits from 6 family farms, 16 rabbits from a zoo, 30 rabbits from 5 research laboratories and 9 pet rabbits from 9 different owners, were tested by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Data were statistically analysed. Tissue samples from brain and kidney of 10 deceased rabbits were formalin-fixed and subsequently analysed by histopathology and immunohistochemistry. Anti-E. cuniculi antibodies were found in 129/183 (70.5%) analysed sera. At statistical analysis, E. cuniculi seropositivity was significantly higher (p<0.05) in industrial and zoo rabbits. At histology, different degrees of pathological lesions were found in serological positive (9) deceased animals. In three rabbits deceased after showing neurological signs, the severity of the lesions was interpreted as a likely cause for their death.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Scienze Veterinarie, Università di Pisa, Viale delle Piagge, 2- 56124 Pisa Italy. Electronic address: giomaes84@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Maestrini
authors.affiliation: School of Veterinary Science, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, Leahurst Campus, Chester High Road, Neston, CH64 7TE, UK. Electronic address: Emanuele.Ricci@liverpool.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Emanuele
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ricci
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Scienze Veterinarie, Università di Pisa, Viale delle Piagge, 2- 56124 Pisa Italy. Electronic address: carlo.cantile@unipi.it.
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cantile
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Fisica "Enrico Fermi", Università di Pisa, Largo Bruno Pontecorvo, 3-56127 Pisa Italy. Electronic address: riccardo.mannella@unipi.it.
authors.forename: Riccardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mannella
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Scienze Veterinarie, Università di Pisa, Viale delle Piagge, 2- 56124 Pisa Italy. Electronic address: francesca.mancianti@unipi.it.
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Mancianti
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Scienze Veterinarie, Università di Pisa, Viale delle Piagge, 2- 56124 Pisa Italy. Electronic address: gisella.paci@unipi.it.
authors.forename: Gisella
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Paci
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Scienze Veterinarie, Università di Pisa, Viale delle Piagge, 2- 56124 Pisa Italy. Electronic address: carlo.dascenzi@unipi.it.
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: D'Ascenzi
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Scienze Veterinarie, Università di Pisa, Viale delle Piagge, 2- 56124 Pisa Italy. Electronic address: stefania.perrucci@unipi.it.
authors.forename: Stefania
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Perrucci
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000829:Animals, Domestic / Q000469:parasitology; D000836:Animals, Zoo / Q000469:parasitology; D001921:Brain / Q000469:parasitology / Q000473:pathology; D009670:Encephalitozoon cuniculi / Q000276:immunology* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D016890:Encephalitozoonosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D007668:Kidney / Q000469:parasitology / Q000473:pathology; D057805:Pets / Q000469:parasitology; D011529:Protozoan Infections, Animal / Q000276:immunology* / Q000401:mortality / Q000503:physiopathology; D011817:Rabbits / Q000469:parasitology*; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies
keywords: Central Italy; Encephalitozoon cuniculi; Lesions; Prevalence; Rabbit