Cestode Infestation – Rabbit

Introduction

Cestode infestations are not common in pet rabbits except perhaps as the intermediate hosts of Taenia pisiformis cystericerci and Taenia serialis coenuri (Goudsward and Thomas 1991). Okerman 1994 states that Taenia pisiformis is common in backyard rabbits. Intestinal Hymenolepis nana infestations are difficult to diagnose in the live rabbit as the ova are shed in proglotids in the faeces and flotation techniques are not entirely suitable for their detection (Harkness 1987).

Treatment

They are also difficult to treat as the parasite is known to have a direct life cycle in some situations. The recommended treatment of lumenal infestations in pet rabbits is the use of praziquantel (Droncit; Bayer plc) orally as the plasma levels obtained from the subcutaneous injection of this product is too short-lived to be efficacious. Williams (1979) mentions Cittotaenia sp and recommends the use of Niclosamide PO to kill the worm.

References

• Goudsward, M. F. and Thomas, J. A. (1991) Coenurus serialis infection of a white rabbit. Veterinary Record 129 295
• Harkness 1987 ???
• Okerman, L. (1994) Diseases of Domestic Rabbits. Blackwell Scien¬tific Publications ISBN 0-632-03804 -7. 2nd Edition
• Williams, C. S. F. (1979) Guinea Pigs and Rabbits. Veterinary Clinics of North America: Small Animal Practice 9 (3) 487 - 498