Induced metabolic disturbance and growth depression in rabbits infected with Eimeria coecicola

Eimeria coecicola causes intestinal coccidiosis in rabbits and, thereby, enormous economic losses in rabbit farms. This study aimed to investigate the effect of intestinal coccidial infection, E. coecicola on metabolic status and growth of rabbits. Animals were allocated into two groups with eight rabbits each; one group was orally inoculated with saline and served as control while the other group was orally inoculated with 5 × 10(4) sporulated oocysts. On day 7 postinfection, fecal expulsion of E. coecicola oocysts is maximal (1.2 × 10(6) oocyst/g feces) and rabbits have lost approximately 23% of their weight. Infection induced a severe depletion in plasma growth hormone level. In addition, the energy metabolic status was significantly (P ≤ 0.05) altered by the infection as, both blood glucose and total lipid levels were significantly elevated with mutual depletion in carbohydrate stores in liver sections. Also, the thyroid-stimulating hormone and cortisol concentrations were raised as a consequence of the infection. Moreover, protein status was affected by the infection as both liver and plasma total proteins were significantly decreased with concurrent disturbance in the blood protein electrophoretic pattern and duplication of blood urea nitrogen concentration. Finally, the infection induced plasma electrolyte imbalance as indicated by a significant decrease in sodium, potassium, calcium, phosphorus, ferrous, and selenium ions. Our data suggested that the intestinal coccidial infection of rabbits with E. coecicola has serious effects on rabbit growth and metabolism and could disrupt endocrine and electrolyte homeostasis.