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Cysticercosis in laboratory rabbits
1Laboratory Animal Resources, Painter Center, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado 80523-2007, USA.
Contemporary Topics in Laboratory Animal Science
|April 13, 2001
Summary
Cysticercosis, caused by Taenia pisiformis tapeworm larvae, is rare in lab rabbits. Awareness of this parasite is crucial, as hepatic migration can impact research outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Pathology
- Parasitology
- Laboratory Animal Science
Background:
- Limited data exists on the incidence of Taenia pisiformis in laboratory rabbits.
- Taenia pisiformis tapeworm cysts (cysticercosis) are uncommon in research rabbits.
Observation:
- Two cases of laboratory rabbits diagnosed with cysticercosis, likely from Taenia pisiformis, are presented.
- Infection routes were investigated, considering potential environmental contamination and pre-arrival exposure, as rabbits had no direct contact with dogs (the definitive host).
Findings:
- The incidence of tapeworm cysts in the facility's rabbit population over 10 years was less than 1%.
- Infection may occur through contaminated feed, such as hay, or prior to arrival at the facility.
Implications:
- Cysticercosis, though rare, should be considered in laboratory rabbits.
- Hepatic migration of tapeworm larvae can potentially compromise experimental results in research rabbits.
