Systemic inflammatory response indicators in rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) experimentally infected with sporulated oocysts of Eimeria stiedai (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae)

Fagner Luiz da Costa Freitas,Katyane de Sousa Almeida,Beatriz Lie Yamamoto,Celio Raimundo Machado,Jose Jurandir Fagliari,Wagner Luiz da Costa Freitas,Rosangela Zacarias Machado

doi:10.1590/s1984-29612011000200006

Abstract

Hemograms and acute-phase proteins in adult male New Zealand White rabbits that had been experimentally infected orally with sporulated oocysts of Eimeria stiedai were evaluated over a 28-day period. Fifty animals were used, divided into two groups: group A infected with 1 × 10(4) sporulated oocysts of E. stiedai and group B inoculated with distilled water. On the seventh day after infection, the infected animals presented anemia and leukocytosis with neutrophilia and monocytosis. Protein fractionation by means of electrophoresis identified 19 acute-phase proteins with molecular weights ranging from 24 to 238 kD. Ceruloplasmin, transferrin and haptoglobin showed high levels on the seventh day after infection, with gradual increases in their concentrations until the end of the experimental period. Thus, from the data of the present study, E. stiedai is considered to be a pyogenic etiological agent for which the infection level can be monitored through the leukocyte count and serum concentrations of ceruloplasmin, transferrin and haptoglobin, and these can be recommended as complementary tests.

Highlights

IntroductionHepatic coccidiosis is a disease caused by the protozoan Eimeria stiedai, and it is considered to be the most important disease faced by rabbit breeders, because of its high morbidity and mortality (GIORGI, 1968; CARDOSO; GUIMARÃES JR., 1993)
Hemograms and acute-phase proteins in adult male New Zealand White rabbits that had been experimentally infected orally with sporulated oocysts of Eimeria stiedai were evaluated over a 28-day period
From the data of the present study, E. stiedai is considered to be a pyogenic etiological agent for which the infection level can be monitored through the leukocyte count and serum concentrations of ceruloplasmin, transferrin and haptoglobin, and these can be recommended as complementary tests

Summary

Introduction

Hepatic coccidiosis is a disease caused by the protozoan Eimeria stiedai, and it is considered to be the most important disease faced by rabbit breeders, because of its high morbidity and mortality (GIORGI, 1968; CARDOSO; GUIMARÃES JR., 1993). Consequent to injury, trauma or tissue infection, hosts develop a complex series of reactions that have the purpose of inhibiting continuation of the tissue damage through isolating and destroying the etiological agent and activating the repair process needed for functional activity to return to normal conditions (BAUMANN; GAULDIE, 1994). Over this period, a broad spectrum of mediators is released by tissue macrophages and blood monocytes. The present study had the aim of evaluating the hematological profile and acute-phase protein concentrations in rabbits that were infected experimentally with sporulated oocysts of E. stiedai

Material and Methods

Results and Discussion

Conclusion