what is coccidia?

[Kokaneeandkahlua]

Sorry, just saw mention of this, getting a rabbit checked for it….

What is it? What are the symptoms, etc?

[Beka27]

http://www.merckvetmanual.com/mvm/index.jsp?cfile=htm/bc/171332.htm

http://www.radil.missouri.edu/info/dora/RABBPAGE/par.htm#I.

the second link is a bit easier of a read.  i wasn’t sure what that was either.  good question… it made me learn!  lol…

 

 

 

[osprey]

A lot of bunnies that are out on the street for a while develop coccidia.  There are many different coccidia parasites, and most of them infect a particular species.  Humans cannot contract rabbit coccidia, but they can transfer it from one bunny to another.  Many adult bunnies have the parasite, but do not manifest any symptoms.  In babies it is very dangerous.  The parasite can cause terrible loose stools and cramping.  Babies can die from the dehydration.

The test involves taking a fecal sample and floating it in a solution that drives out the parasite.  Then, the parasite can be seen under a microscope.  The treatment is a course of Albon that kills the parasite.  The disease is highly contagious, so once a bunny has it they can infect anybun they live with, and can even reinfect themselves.  The parasite travels from one bunny to another through the fecal pellets.  I think bleach is effective at killing it on surfaces.

Some shelters routinely test and treat for coccidia, some do not.  A particularly virulent strain was present in some of the bunnies that came from the great Reno bunny rescue, and these rabbits infected and killed other bunnies in the families that adopted them. 

[Beka27]

good info Osprey!  question… is it so contagious that it can be passed during bunny speed dating?

[osprey]

Absolutely!  As soon as a bun steps on an infected poop and then washes that foot, they can be infected.  This is why it is so important to know if the shelter has tested them or that a private vet has tested them.  I think it is also possible for the fecal test to be negative, but the bun is still infected.  The parasites go through some kind of 7 day cycle, and you are supposed to collect samples for a couple of days.  Not sure about that though, check with your vet about the specifics of the test.

 

[Gravehearted]

Osprey – thanks for all the good info 🙂

It’s a parasite which generally infects the small intestine. Symptoms can be loss of appetite, diarrhea, bloating, loss of hair; occasionally no symptoms.

Coccidia spreads quickl, so infected rabbits must be quarantined until given the okay by your vet, and all ‘contact rabbits’ should be treated prophylactically.

Coccidia is generally contracted by outside rabbits from damp dirt/grass, where bacteria and parasites tend to hide and can be prevented by bring bunnies inside to live.

[Lisa_43]

Thank you for the excellent information everyone.

[Author]

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