Rabbit Health Check

Encephalitozoon Cuniculi (E. Cuniculi) is a protozoal parasite. The parasite primarily affects rabbits, but cases have been reported in sheep, goats, dogs, cats, monkeys, guinea pigs, foxes, pigs and humans. It is a recognised zoonosis, but the zoonotic risk seems to be minimal to healthy individuals observing basic hygiene. To date, there have been no reported cases of direct transmission from a rabbit to a human. However, those individuals who are immunosuppressed should implement strict hygiene and, if possible, avoid animals suspected or confirmed of being infected with E. Cuniculi and undoubtedly seek medical advice from their doctor.

Spores are shed in infected animals' urine and transmission usually occurs from the ingestion of contaminated food or water or, less commonly, by inhalation of spores. Transmission from mother to young (transplacental) also occurs so that offspring is born infected.

One study showed that approximately 52% of healthy rabbits in the UK carry the parasite, but many never show any clinical signs. We still don't understand why some infected rabbits develop the disease and others don't, but it is most likely related to their immune function.

If the rabbit is infected with E. Cuniculi and showing clinical signs, it may exhibit any, some or all of the following:

• Hind limb paresis (weakness of the hind limbs)
• Head tilt (torticollis)
• Paralysis
• Urinary incontinence and/or scalding
• Tremors
• Cataracts and lens-induced uveitis  
• Collapse
• Renal failure
• Death

These clinical signs are caused by the body's inflammatory reaction to rupture infected cells, mainly in the nervous system and kidney. However, many of these symptoms can be associated with other disease processes, so a diagnosis is rarely made on clinical symptoms alone.

If the rabbit is showing clinical signs that may be suspicious, then a blood test might be recommended. Nowadays, the test most commonly used is the ELISA test that measures serum antibody levels. This detects whether the rabbit has been exposed to the parasite.

A negative result is generally conclusive and can rule out E. Cuniculi as the problem, unless the sample is taken very early on in infection or the immune system is so weak that the rabbit doesn't produce antibodies, since so many rabbits carry the parasite without symptoms (asymptomatically). 

Another available test is the PCR test, which detects the parasite itself, usually in a urine sample. A positive result means that the rabbit is shedding the parasite and is thus infected, but a negative may mean either that the rabbit is not infected, or that it is infected but just not shedding spores at that time.

Treatment aims to reduce inflammation and prevent formation of spores. If a diagnosis is made or clinical symptoms indicate E. Cuniculi to be the cause of disease, a 28-day course of oral fenbendazole, e.g. PanacurT, at 20 mg/kg once a day is the general treatment of choice, plus anti-inflammatory drugs such as corticosteroids.

However, many new treatments are being trialled and looked into, so your vet may decide to treat your rabbit with a different drug or combination of drugs. If a secondary bacterial infection is also present, the treatment regime will probably also include antibiotics.

This is where people differ in their opinions. Routinely treating against E. Cuniculi is recommended by some vets but deemed pointless by others! Some vets feel that treating your rabbit 2-4 times a year can help reduce the incidence of E. Cuniculi developing to a point where clinical signs are seen. However, other vets feel that preventive treatment is pointless because as soon as the course of treatment is finished, the rabbit is no more protected than it would have been if it hadn't been treated. This is an area where more research is needed.

If you choose to use preventive treatment, there are products that are licensed for this purpose. It is usually a 9-day oral course given once daily at the same dose as what would be used to treat an infected rabbit (20mg/kg) and can be done every 3-6 months. Please contact your vet, who will be happy to advise you.

We don't really know. One study showed that a 28-day course of fenbendazole does eliminate the parasite, but this may not be the case with all rabbits and some people feel that once a rabbit is infected with E. Cuniculi, it will be a life-long carrier. The disease process will generally take one of the following routes...

Treatment improves the clinical signs - If this is the case, after 28 days the treatment is usually stopped. At this point, if the rabbit deteriorates again, treatment can be recommenced. It isn't known for sure what triggers a flare-up of the disease but stress is thought to play a part, or if the rabbit's immune system is weakened by another disease and can no longer keep the parasite at bay. Also, don't forget that a rabbit can become re-infected if it is exposed again to spores from the environment.

Some rabbits need lifelong medications, whereas others need it sporadically to control clinical signs when they manifest themselves. Others only need a one-off treatment course and never seem to develop clinical signs again. However, it should be stated that treatment might not be sufficient for the rabbit to make a full recovery and some level of clinical signs often continue.

Treatment does not improve the clinical signs - Generally, if treatment is going to work, some improvement in clinical signs is seen in the first week or so, with a gradual improvement. For those rabbits that fail to improve, euthanasia is the only humane option if the clinical signs are debilitating and the rabbit has no quality of life.

Firstly, you need to be 100% sure that the rabbit isn't already carrying the parasite. Ask your vet if they would be willing to perform a blood test on your rabbit. If the result comes back as negative, the best form of defence is to stop your rabbit coming into contact with any other rabbits, be this domestic or wild. As previously mentioned, spores from the parasite are primarily passed on in the urine of infected rabbits, so removing this route of transmission is your rabbit's best form of defence. Good hygiene is vital as spores can easily be killed by routine disinfectants.

E. Cuniculi is a parasite, not a virus. Therefore, there is no vaccine against E. Cuniculi.

This depends on the rabbit's response to treatment and the frequency and severity of any flare-ups.

Generally speaking, a lot of rabbits who develop problems due to E. Cuniculi can go on to do well and lead full lives, but treatment needs to be prompt, otherwise the parasite will cause more damage and clinical signs will be more severe.

It is important to keep your rabbit's quality of life in mind when dealing with E. Cuniculi. For example, if your rabbit has a head tilt but is otherwise eating, drinking and managing to get around, they are probably perfectly happy.

Rabbits don't worry about what they look like; this is more of a concern to the owner.

However, a rabbit that is continually scalded with urine, miserable, rolling/falling over or unable to move due to hind limb weakness or paralysis is not a happy rabbit. You should think seriously about whether your rabbit has an acceptable quality of life.