Hepatic Coccidiosis in Wild Rabbits in Greece: Parasite Detection on Liver Imprints and the Associated Biochemical Profile

Abstract

(1) Background: Rabbit hepatic coccidiosis, caused by Eimeria stiedae, is a devastating disease with high morbidity and mortality rates. The disease is well described in rabbits, but little is known about E. stiedae infection in wild rabbits. In this study, we investigated the presence of E. stiedae infection in wild rabbits from the island of Lemnos, Greece, where this species is overpopulated, and the effects of infection on common hepatic biomarkers. (2) Methods: We used liver impression smears to detect the coccidian oocysts, and we defined the liver biochemical profile of the infected individuals. (3) Results: Overall, 13.3% of the liver imprints examined were positive for the presence of coccidial oocysts. The activities of liver enzymes, that is, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and glutamyltransferase (GGT), as well as globulins (GLOB), were increased while the concentrations of albumins (ALB), total proteins (TP) and the albumin to globulin (A/G) ratio were decreased in the infected individuals compared to the non-infected ones. (4) Conclusions: This study adds to the current knowledge on the pathogens affecting wild rabbits and those circulating in this population on the island of Lemnos, Greece. Moreover, we showed that E. stiedae infection exerts pathological effects on the hepatocyte integrity and liver function of wild rabbits, as reflected by the abnormal values of liver injury and dysfunction biomarkers.

Wildlife and parasitic infections: A One Health perspective in Greece

“… 84 1.2 Diakou et al (2014b) Trichostrongylus retortaeformis 84 50.0 Diakou et al (2014b) Trichostrongylys spp. 3 66.6 Liatis et al (2017) Trichuris leporis 84 21.4 Diakou et al (2014b) Trematoda Dicrocoelium dentriticum 84 9.5 Diakou et al (2014b) 3 33.3 Liatis et al (2017) Wild rabbit ( Oryctolagus cuniculus ) Protozoa Eimeria stiedae 60 13.3 Athanasiou et al (2023) Babesia spp. 72 9.7 d Athanasiou et al (2021) Leishmania infantum 101 7.6 b and 2.6 c Tsakmakidis et al (2019) 72 4.2 d Athanasiou et al (2021) Toxoplasma gondii 72 5.5 d Athanasiou et al (2021) European ground squirrel ( Spermophil...…”

“…Interestingly, in the islands in the northern part of the Aegean Sea, Greece, specifically on the Island of Lemnos, wild rabbits are overpopulated and have caused significant ecosystem disruption and crop damage since 1995. There are only three studies in Greece investigating the occurrence of parasitic pathogens in this wild rabbit population ( Table 3 ), with two of them reporting infection with parasites with zoonotic potential ( Tsakmakidis et al, 2019 ; Athanasiou et al, 2021 , 2023 ).…”