Molecular detection of Eimeria stiedae in an Angora rabbit

Abstract

Hepatic coccidiosis caused by Eimeria stiedae, results in severe infection, outbreaks and deaths in young rabbits. Disease is diagnosed by time consuming methods like fecal examination, oocyst sporulation and necropsy. The aim of this study was to detect E.stiedae with species specific Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR), without waiting oocyst sporulation and necropsy. Impression smears were prepared from liver nodules and stained with giemsa. Fecal samples were collected from the intestines and examined by centrifugal flotation with salt solution to detect Eimeria spp. oocysts. Then oocysts were sporulated in 2.5% (w/v) aqueous potassium dichromate (K2Cr207). Primers specific to E.stiedae were used in PCR reaction. Eimeria spp. oocysts were detected after the examination of impression smears and bowel content. E.stiedae was diagnosed after the measurement of sporulated oocyst and PCR. At the end of the study, we think that; PCR will be very valuable for the rapid and true diagnosis of hepatic coccidiosis in rabbits.