E. cuniculi
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E. cuniculi
Encephalitozoon cuniculi (or E. cuniculi) is a microsporidian infection commonly believed to be caused by either a protozoal parasite or a fungal organism (depending on which medical professional you ask) and can cause nerve, eye and kidney damage in rabbits. Many rabbits will not show any or all symptoms and because of this, diagnoses can be challenging. In the past, E. cuniculi was believed to be a protozoal parasite but some now believe that it is a fungal organism. Regardless if E. cuniculi is caused by a parasite or a fungal organism, symptoms and treatment are the same.
Typically rabbits get infected by transmission from an infected mother to the fetus through the placenta, or through ingestion or inhalation of infectious organisms shed in the urine. After contact, the organisms may pass through the rabbits without cause infection, or the organism may infect the rabbit's tissues and may or may not cause disease. E. cuniculi is believed to be associated with tissue damage to the neurologic system, the lenses of the eyes, the lungs, the heart and the kidneys. Many infected rabbits will never show any symptoms of disease.
It can be very challenging to diagnose E. cuniculi. Blood tests are often helpful but not always conclusive. Symptoms include:
Typically rabbits get infected by transmission from an infected mother to the fetus through the placenta, or through ingestion or inhalation of infectious organisms shed in the urine. After contact, the organisms may pass through the rabbits without cause infection, or the organism may infect the rabbit's tissues and may or may not cause disease. E. cuniculi is believed to be associated with tissue damage to the neurologic system, the lenses of the eyes, the lungs, the heart and the kidneys. Many infected rabbits will never show any symptoms of disease.
It can be very challenging to diagnose E. cuniculi. Blood tests are often helpful but not always conclusive. Symptoms include:
- Loss of balance or coordination sometimes manifested with head tilt, circling, or body rolling
- Seizures, tremors, blindness and spinal cord damage
- Rupture of the lens of the eye, leading to inflammation in the eye and other eye damage
- Kidney damage
- Hind limb weakness
- Paralysis
- Urinary incontinence and/or urine scalding (often a sign of kidney problems)
- Renal failure
E. cuniculi is treated with oral medications targeted at killing the organism, but they may not repair the tissue damage already done to the rabbit which means that symptoms may or may not improve after treatment. The most common medication used for treatment of E. cuniculi is fenbendazole (Pacacur). Rabbits are usually treated once a day for 28 days. There is now a product designed specifically for rabbits called Panacur rabbit.
E. cuniculi organisms are environmentally resistant and difficult to destroy, and are susceptible to bleach (0.1% with 10 mins contact time) and hydrogen peroxide (1% with 30 min contact time). The organisms can stay alive for months under the right conditions. Thoroughly clean your rabbit's environment to remove obvious urine, feces and other organic dirt such as pellets and hay. Wash the cage, food containers, water containers, mats, and any other items that your rabbit has had access to with hot, soapy water and then disinfect them with bleach. Let them sit for the recommended time and then rinse them again in fresh hot water.
