That narrator was definitely wrong! I’ll try to lay it out in simple terms, but let me know if you have more questions (I have a parasitology background).
E. cuniculi is a type of single-celled fungal parasite, whereas ear mites are multi-celled animals in the same group as spiders and ticks. I have no idea why the narrator would say they are the same thing! But they are both types of parasites, so maybe that’s why!
Because it’s a fungus, EC has a very different life cycle than something like a bacteria. A bacterial infection will just reproduce by cell division in the host and can just do that indefinitely until the host immune system kills it or the host dies. EC has a complex life history involving a spore stage that is shed in the rabbit urine, along with cell division stages that occur in the rabbit. A rabbit can be infected but not actively shedding spores, and in fact we think many rabbits fall in this category (they are infected but asymptomatic and probably not actively shedding spores). There is still a TON that we don’t know about EC and the group of parasites it’s a part of in general. It’s a very understudied area!
Also because it’s a fungus, EC can be more difficult to cure because fungal cells are somewhat similar to our own cells. EC is usually treated with a 28 day course of fenbendazole, a deworming drug that also happens to have activity against fungal cells. Ear mites are treated with either ivermectin or selamectin, which also happen to be deworming drugs that so happen to also affect mites! So that could have been some of the source of confusion? But different drugs are needed for each parasite.
Let me know if that clears things up or if you have other questions 🙂
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The answers provided in this discussion are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. Seek the advice of your veterinarian or a qualified behaviorist.
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