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Anja Joachim - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Encephalitozoonosis in rabbits
Parasitology Research, 2010Co-Authors: Frank Künzel, Anja JoachimAbstract:Encephalitozoon cuniculi is an obligatory intracellular microsporidian parasite that can infect a wide range of mammals, including rodents, rabbits, horses, carnivores and humans, in which the organism is known as an opportunistic pathogen of immunocompromised individuals. Nevertheless, the main host for E. cuniculi is the rabbit and infections usually have a sub-clinical course. However, severe disease is recognised in pet rabbits more frequently within the last years. As the central nervous system, the kidney and the eye are predilection organs for the organism, predominant histopathological alterations comprise granulomatous meningoencephalitis, chronical interstitial nephritis and phacoclastic uveitis. A definitive diagnosis of Encephalitozoonosis in vivo is difficult, but it is important for specific treatment and the determination of possible zoonotic risks. This review article covers epidemiology, pathology, pathophysiology, immunology, clinical signs, differential diagnosis, diagnosis and treatment of Encephalitozoonosis in rabbits.
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diagnostic markers for Encephalitozoonosis in pet rabbits
Veterinary Parasitology, 2009Co-Authors: J Csokai, Anja Joachim, Alexander Tichy, A Gruber, Akos Pakozdy, Frank KünzelAbstract:Abstract Encephalitozoonosis is a common disease in pet rabbits, routinely diagnosed in vivo by serological examination or post mortem by histopathology. Recently molecular techniques have become increasingly important as diagnostic tools. The application of different diagnostic markers for in vivo and post mortem determination of E. cuniculi in naturally infected pet rabbits were compared. The examined population was divided into 33 rabbits with symptoms of Encephalitozoonosis (group I) and 38 animals without symptoms (group II) which were all tested by serological analysis (Indirect Immunofluorescence Test), histological examination including special spore staining (Ziehl-Neelsen, acid-fast trichrome) and conventional and nested PCR (organs, body fluids). Additionally, in group III lens material (n = 10) of animals (n = 9) with phacoclastic uveitis were examined by conventional PCR. Infections with E. cuniculi could be determined post mortem in 78.8% of the rabbits of group I and in 57.9% of group II by histological examination combined with spore staining. In group I 69.7% and in group II 50.0% showed seroconversion. Conventional PCR was only sufficiently sensitive in samples of eyes with phacoclastic uveitis (n = 10; 100%). Therefore nested PCR was performed in tissue samples, urine and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) with positive results in 63.6% of group I and 42.1% of group II. Positive results in serology, pathohistology (spore detection and histological changes in the brain and/or kidneys) and nested PCR were obtained in 52.1% of the rabbits (group I and II, n = 71), whereas 31.0% showed negative results in all three diagnostic techniques. 5.6% of the rabbits were positive in two methods and 11.3% in one method. In 37 rabbits (group I and II) with positive results in nested PCR, E. cuniculi DNA could be detected more frequently in the brain (91.9%) than in the kidney (54.1%). Furthermore nested PCR of urine revealed positive results in 29.7% of the rabbits (n = 37) with seroconversion and/or confirmed E. cuniculi infection by spore detection. All 25 samples of CSF tested negative in nested PCR. Conventional PCR of eyes with phacoclastic uveitis was an excellent diagnostic marker in living rabbits, while nested PCR of urine or CSF was not reliable. Histological examination combined with special staining was the most sensitive method in post mortem diagnostics. Nested PCR appears to be a good post mortem method to investigate organs, especially brains, of chronically infected animals.
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Encephalitozoonosis in pet rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus): pathohistological findings in animals with latent infection versus clinical manifestation
Parasitology Research, 2009Co-Authors: Jacqueline Csokai, Frank Künzel, Andrea Gruber, Alexander Tichy, Anja JoachimAbstract:Encephalitozoon cuniculi is a common infectious agent of rabbits. The aim of this study was to determine the distribution and extent of histological lesions in the brain and in the kidney of naturally infected pet rabbits with or without clinical Encephalitozoonosis. In 71 animals (33 with symptoms) which died or were euthanised, histopathological examination including staining of spores (Ziehl–Neelsen, acid-fast trichrome) was performed and changes were described quantitatively. The cerebrum was the most frequently affected brain region (97.5%), whilst the cerebellum (55%) and the vestibular cores (37.5%) were less commonly concerned. Granulomas were found in 77.5% of animals with encephalitis and in 12.5% of rabbits with interstitial nephritis. Although cerebral granulomas were found irrespective of the grade of histological changes, they were significantly correlated with changes at higher grades. There was no correlation between the severity of encephalitis and neurological symptoms. Since severe lesions were also found in clinically inconspicuous animals, histological findings of inflammatory lesions are not indicative of overt Encephalitozoonosis as the causative agent for neurological signs. Other diseases causing neurological symptoms, such as suppurative encephalitis, otitis media as well as malignant lymphoma were also detected in the rabbit population that was examined in the present study.
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clinical symptoms and diagnosis of Encephalitozoonosis in pet rabbits
Veterinary Parasitology, 2008Co-Authors: Frank Künzel, Alexander Tichy, A Gruber, Renate Edelhofer, Barbara Nell, Jasmin Hassan, Michael Leschnik, J G Thalhammer, Anja JoachimAbstract:Infections with Encephalitozoon cuniculi in rabbits are observed at increasing frequency and are known as opportunistic infections in immunocompromised humans. 191 pet rabbits with suspected Encephalitozoonosis, presented at the Animal Hospital of the Veterinary University of Vienna (Austria), were included in this study. Rabbits were serologically examined for antibodies against E. cuniculi (144 positive out of 184 rabbits with suspected Encephalitozoonosis compared to 14 positive out of 40 clinically healthy rabbits tested as part of a standard health check) and Toxoplasma gondii (8 positive out of 157). Of the 144 seropositive rabbits with clinical signs, 75% showed neurological symptoms, 14.6% demonstrated phacoclastic uveitis and 3.5% suffered from renal failure. 6.9% of the animals had combined symptoms. Vestibular disease dominated within the rabbits that showed neurological symptoms. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) could not detect parasite DNA in urine or cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), but did so in 4 out of 5 samples of liquefied lens material in cases with phacoclastic uveitis due to lens capsule rupture. Additionally further diagnostic procedures, such as inspection of the external ear canal (N = 69), radiography of the tympanic bullae (N = 65) were performed to rule out differential diagnosis. 54.2% of the patients exhibiting neurological symptoms recovered within a few days, while 87.5% of the rabbits suffering from renal failure died or had to be euthanized.
Frank Künzel - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Clinical Signs, Diagnosis, and Treatment of Encephalitozoon cuniculi Infection in Rabbits.
The veterinary clinics of North America. Exotic animal practice, 2018Co-Authors: Frank Künzel, Peter G. FisherAbstract:Central vestibular dysfunction caused by Encephalitozoon cuniculi frequently mimics the condition of a peripheral disorder. A negative antibody titer rules out E cuniculi as the cause of present clinical signs. Cerebrospinal fluid analysis including polymerase chain reaction is considered an inappropriate diagnostic method for in vivo diagnosis of Encephalitozoonosis. The usefulness of glucocorticoid anti-inflammatories in the treatment of Encephalitozoonosis is called into question. Encouraging activity early in the course of disease and adding in therapeutic exercise may represent the most important part of therapy in rabbits with vestibular dysfunction associated with Encephalitozoonosis.
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Encephalitozoonosis in rabbits
Parasitology Research, 2010Co-Authors: Frank Künzel, Anja JoachimAbstract:Encephalitozoon cuniculi is an obligatory intracellular microsporidian parasite that can infect a wide range of mammals, including rodents, rabbits, horses, carnivores and humans, in which the organism is known as an opportunistic pathogen of immunocompromised individuals. Nevertheless, the main host for E. cuniculi is the rabbit and infections usually have a sub-clinical course. However, severe disease is recognised in pet rabbits more frequently within the last years. As the central nervous system, the kidney and the eye are predilection organs for the organism, predominant histopathological alterations comprise granulomatous meningoencephalitis, chronical interstitial nephritis and phacoclastic uveitis. A definitive diagnosis of Encephalitozoonosis in vivo is difficult, but it is important for specific treatment and the determination of possible zoonotic risks. This review article covers epidemiology, pathology, pathophysiology, immunology, clinical signs, differential diagnosis, diagnosis and treatment of Encephalitozoonosis in rabbits.
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diagnostic markers for Encephalitozoonosis in pet rabbits
Veterinary Parasitology, 2009Co-Authors: J Csokai, Anja Joachim, Alexander Tichy, A Gruber, Akos Pakozdy, Frank KünzelAbstract:Abstract Encephalitozoonosis is a common disease in pet rabbits, routinely diagnosed in vivo by serological examination or post mortem by histopathology. Recently molecular techniques have become increasingly important as diagnostic tools. The application of different diagnostic markers for in vivo and post mortem determination of E. cuniculi in naturally infected pet rabbits were compared. The examined population was divided into 33 rabbits with symptoms of Encephalitozoonosis (group I) and 38 animals without symptoms (group II) which were all tested by serological analysis (Indirect Immunofluorescence Test), histological examination including special spore staining (Ziehl-Neelsen, acid-fast trichrome) and conventional and nested PCR (organs, body fluids). Additionally, in group III lens material (n = 10) of animals (n = 9) with phacoclastic uveitis were examined by conventional PCR. Infections with E. cuniculi could be determined post mortem in 78.8% of the rabbits of group I and in 57.9% of group II by histological examination combined with spore staining. In group I 69.7% and in group II 50.0% showed seroconversion. Conventional PCR was only sufficiently sensitive in samples of eyes with phacoclastic uveitis (n = 10; 100%). Therefore nested PCR was performed in tissue samples, urine and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) with positive results in 63.6% of group I and 42.1% of group II. Positive results in serology, pathohistology (spore detection and histological changes in the brain and/or kidneys) and nested PCR were obtained in 52.1% of the rabbits (group I and II, n = 71), whereas 31.0% showed negative results in all three diagnostic techniques. 5.6% of the rabbits were positive in two methods and 11.3% in one method. In 37 rabbits (group I and II) with positive results in nested PCR, E. cuniculi DNA could be detected more frequently in the brain (91.9%) than in the kidney (54.1%). Furthermore nested PCR of urine revealed positive results in 29.7% of the rabbits (n = 37) with seroconversion and/or confirmed E. cuniculi infection by spore detection. All 25 samples of CSF tested negative in nested PCR. Conventional PCR of eyes with phacoclastic uveitis was an excellent diagnostic marker in living rabbits, while nested PCR of urine or CSF was not reliable. Histological examination combined with special staining was the most sensitive method in post mortem diagnostics. Nested PCR appears to be a good post mortem method to investigate organs, especially brains, of chronically infected animals.
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Encephalitozoonosis in pet rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus): pathohistological findings in animals with latent infection versus clinical manifestation
Parasitology Research, 2009Co-Authors: Jacqueline Csokai, Frank Künzel, Andrea Gruber, Alexander Tichy, Anja JoachimAbstract:Encephalitozoon cuniculi is a common infectious agent of rabbits. The aim of this study was to determine the distribution and extent of histological lesions in the brain and in the kidney of naturally infected pet rabbits with or without clinical Encephalitozoonosis. In 71 animals (33 with symptoms) which died or were euthanised, histopathological examination including staining of spores (Ziehl–Neelsen, acid-fast trichrome) was performed and changes were described quantitatively. The cerebrum was the most frequently affected brain region (97.5%), whilst the cerebellum (55%) and the vestibular cores (37.5%) were less commonly concerned. Granulomas were found in 77.5% of animals with encephalitis and in 12.5% of rabbits with interstitial nephritis. Although cerebral granulomas were found irrespective of the grade of histological changes, they were significantly correlated with changes at higher grades. There was no correlation between the severity of encephalitis and neurological symptoms. Since severe lesions were also found in clinically inconspicuous animals, histological findings of inflammatory lesions are not indicative of overt Encephalitozoonosis as the causative agent for neurological signs. Other diseases causing neurological symptoms, such as suppurative encephalitis, otitis media as well as malignant lymphoma were also detected in the rabbit population that was examined in the present study.
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clinical symptoms and diagnosis of Encephalitozoonosis in pet rabbits
Veterinary Parasitology, 2008Co-Authors: Frank Künzel, Alexander Tichy, A Gruber, Renate Edelhofer, Barbara Nell, Jasmin Hassan, Michael Leschnik, J G Thalhammer, Anja JoachimAbstract:Infections with Encephalitozoon cuniculi in rabbits are observed at increasing frequency and are known as opportunistic infections in immunocompromised humans. 191 pet rabbits with suspected Encephalitozoonosis, presented at the Animal Hospital of the Veterinary University of Vienna (Austria), were included in this study. Rabbits were serologically examined for antibodies against E. cuniculi (144 positive out of 184 rabbits with suspected Encephalitozoonosis compared to 14 positive out of 40 clinically healthy rabbits tested as part of a standard health check) and Toxoplasma gondii (8 positive out of 157). Of the 144 seropositive rabbits with clinical signs, 75% showed neurological symptoms, 14.6% demonstrated phacoclastic uveitis and 3.5% suffered from renal failure. 6.9% of the animals had combined symptoms. Vestibular disease dominated within the rabbits that showed neurological symptoms. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) could not detect parasite DNA in urine or cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), but did so in 4 out of 5 samples of liquefied lens material in cases with phacoclastic uveitis due to lens capsule rupture. Additionally further diagnostic procedures, such as inspection of the external ear canal (N = 69), radiography of the tympanic bullae (N = 65) were performed to rule out differential diagnosis. 54.2% of the patients exhibiting neurological symptoms recovered within a few days, while 87.5% of the rabbits suffering from renal failure died or had to be euthanized.
Inge Bjerkas - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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brain and spinal cord lesions in Encephalitozoonosis in blue foxes transmission and scanning electron microscopic studies
Apmis, 2009Co-Authors: Inge BjerkasAbstract:The brains and spinal cords from 3 young blue foxes suffering from acute to subacute Encephalitozoonosis, were examined by transmission and scanning electron microscopy. Parasitophorous vacuoles (PV) were demonstrated more frequently in vascular smooth muscular cells than in endothelial cells. The present study also indicated that the parasite has great affinity for neurons, including their processes. In addition, PV occurred in macrophages and probably also in intravascular monocytes. PV were readily differentiated from phagosomes by the bleb formations of the limiting membrane. An accumulation of host cell mitochondria near the PV in areas where developmental stages were attached, was a most striking feature. The inflammatory lesions, mainly of the granulomatous type, were almost constantly associated with the presence of released parasites, both in vascular walls and the nervous tissue. Phagocytosed parasites were probably killed by the lysosomal enzymes, although the spores were only slowly degraded.
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extraglomerular lesions in kidneys of mink with Encephalitozoonosis
Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica, 1992Co-Authors: Zhiyong Zhou, Knut Nordstoga, Inge BjerkasAbstract:Extraglomerular renal lesions were studied by light and electron microscopy in 13 farmed mink which showed cataractous eyes associated with spontaneous Encephalitozoonosis. The extraglomerular renal lesions consisted of multiple renal cysts, multifocal-to-coalescing interstitial nephritis and vasculitis. Tubular cysts of varying size were present in the corticomedullary junction and medulla. The inflammatory infiltrates were composed mostly of lymphocytes and plasma cells and usually accompanied an interstitial fibrosis. Vasculitis, perivasculitis and sclerotic arteries were frequently seen.
Fengpang Cheng - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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serological survey for antibodies to encephalitozoon cuniculi in rabbits in taiwan
Veterinary Parasitology, 2011Co-Authors: Kaiyee Tee, Jupo Kao, Hsinyu Chiu, Minghuang Chang, Jiannhsiung Wang, Kwongchung Tung, Fengpang ChengAbstract:Encephalitozoon cuniculi (E. cuniculi) is a microsporidian parasite commonly found in rabbits that can infect humans, causing Encephalitozoonosis. Our laboratory recently confirmed the first case of Encephalitozoonosis in a rabbit in Taiwan; the prevalence of Encephalitozoonosis is not well documented, even when many clinics suspect pet rabbits as being infected. This study surveys the seropositivity of E. cuniculi using carbon immunoassay (CIA) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Serological examination of 171 rabbits using CIA and ELISA showed that 63.2% (108/171) and 67.8% (116/171) were seropositive against E. cuniculi, respectively. Thirteen of the 14 rabbits (92.9%) with neurological symptoms were seropositive. Except for gender, health status and location had a significant effect on E. cuniculi seropositivity (p<0.05). Adult rabbits aged older than 4 months exhibited significantly higher seropositivity for E. cuniculi than young rabbits (p<0.05). In conclusion, this study shows that E. cuniculi is present and widespread among healthy rabbits in Taiwan. Therefore, the fields of veterinary and human medicine in Taiwan should be aware of this zoonotic issue and the resulting public health concern of Encephalitozoonosis.
Alessandro Fioretti - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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serological survey for antibodies to encephalitozoon cuniculi in pet rabbits in italy
Zoonoses and Public Health, 2008Co-Authors: Ludovico Dipineto, Laura Rinaldi, Antonio Santaniello, Mariangela Sensale, Alessandra Cuomo, M Calabria, Lucia Francesca Menna, Alessandro FiorettiAbstract:Pet rabbits (n = 125) from Southern Italy were submitted to a serological screening for Encephalitozoon cuniculi, using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and a carbon immunoassay (CIA). Seventy-eight examined rabbits showed clinical signs suggestive of Encephalitozoonosis (head tilt, ataxia, paralysis, cataracts, uveitis, polyuria and polydipsia), whereas 47 were healthy rabbits. Antibodies anti-E. cuniculi were found in 84/125 (67.2%) sera analysed. The results of the chi-squared test showed that sex and health status had no significant effect (P > 0.05) on E. cuniculi seropositivity; however, rabbits older than 4 months had a seropositivity for E. cuniculi significantly (P < 0.05) higher than that of rabbits aged up to 4 months. The results of the present survey reinforce the assumption that rabbit may be indicated as the main reservoir of E. cuniculi; therefore, routine screening examinations in pet rabbits are strongly advised considering the zoonotic potential of this parasite.