Authors

S AboelhadidK Hassan ¹ Animal Health Research-Beni Suef Branch., Egypt;  ² Beni Suef University- Faculty of Vet. Med. Parasitol. Dept, Egypt

Discussion

The early detection of Eimeria stiedae in hepatic tissue of experimentally infected rabbits by molecular assay was studied. The experiment was conducted on 40 male New Zealand rabbits of 6 weeks age. The rabbits were divided into infected group (A) of 30 rabbits and control uninfected group (B) of ten. Group A was infected with 2.5×10⁴ sporulated oocysts of E. stiedae per rabbit at zero day. Three animals of group A and one of group B were sacrificed at 0, 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21, 24 and 27 days post infection (PI). PM findings and light microscopy were estimated. In addition, PCR was applied to detect E. stiedae in blood, liver tissues and feaces. Macroscopically, liver showed the specific lesions of irregular yellowish white nodules beginning from the 15^th days PI then is more prominent gradually. Hepatomegaly and ascites were obvious from the 21^st to the 24^th days PI. Histopathologically, presence of different schizonts and gametocytes of E. stiedae in the biliary epithelium appeared clearly at the 15^th day PI. Molecular PCR on blood in the first 9 days PI showed no results. While it revealed the specific amplicon of E. stiedae, 976 bp on liver tissues starting from the 12^th day PI. Moreover, PCR assay on fecal samples showed positive results from the beginning of oocysts shedding (18^th day PI). In conclusion, the conventional PCR could detect E. stiedae schizonts starting from the 12th day PI earlier to specific PM lesions and before shedding of the oocysts in feaces, also before the clinical signs progressed.