APPLICATION OF IMMUNOFLUORESCENCE TO ESTABLISHMENT OF AN ENCEPHALITOZOON-CUNICULI-FREE RABBIT COLONY

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  • 1 January 1977
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 27  (2) , 204-209
Abstract
Serologic screening of a rabbit breeding colony over a 9 mo. period showed that all 9 wk old rabbits with E. cuniculi infection were born of E. cuniculi-infected does. This observation, obtained from studies on 395 young rabbits, suggested that transmission of infection was either transplacental or the result of close contact soon after birth. On this basis, 16 young healthy rabbits, seronegative to E. cuniculi, were isolated and tested at 2 wk intervals for antibodies to E. cuniculi. In the first 2 mo., 7 rabbits showed indications of developing antibodies to E. cuniculi and were immediately removed from the colony. The remaining rabbits along with their 52 offspring were tested for serum antibodies for a further 16 mo. and no rabbit became seropositive. After 8 mo. of colony establishment, 3 does, 1 buck and six 12 wk old rabbits were killed. Macroscopic and extensive histologic and immunofluorescence examinations failed to reveal any evidence of infection with E. cuniculi. Serological screening for E. cuniculi infection by immunofluorescence is a simple yet adequate procedure for establishing a rabbit colony free of encephalitozoonosis.