In this research, 210 samples of local rabbits in three different cities (Riyadh, Al Kharj and Ad-Dilam) were examined for coccidiosis infection, and 90 rabbits were found to be infected with other different species of the
Eimeria genus (Table 1), constituting 42.86% of the total (Fig 1). The infections were typical, and the breeders did not provide the rabbits with any
Eimeria related vaccines or treatments. After an investigation, the overall frequency of these coccidial illnesses in rabbits in Riyadh City was 45.7%, in Ad-Dilam City it was 44.2% and in Al Kharj City it was 38.6%, respectively (Table 1, Fig 2), significant differences (p<0.05) in prevalence were observed between infected and uninfected rabbits. However, no significant difference was seen between Riyadh, Al Kharj and Dilam rabbits (p>0.01). In the domestic Saudi Arabian rabbits where the study was conducted (
Abdel-Baki and Al-Quraishy, 2013), they found that the incidence of
Eimeria spp. was (75%). In previous studies, the prevalence of coccidial infection in domestic Saudi Arabian rabbits has ranged from 73% to 90%. In the present study, the fecal analysis revealed that the prevalence of
Eimeria spp. in domestic rabbits was 42.85% lower than in previous studies conducted in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, where it was 45.7%, 37.14 studies has ranged from 73% to 90%. In the present study, the fecal analysis revealed that the prevalence of
Eimeria spp. in domestic rabbits was 42.85% lower than in previous studies conducted in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, where it was 45.7%. In addition, (
Ras, 2020;
Delahaut et al., 2020; Elshahawy and Elgoniemy, 2018), recorded that 34.93%, 68.12%, 70% and 86.50% of Egypt rabbits were infected with coccidiosis, respectively. While our findings were higher than those obtained in India (9.3%) and Brazil (19.5%) by
(Heker et al., 2017), Moreover, reported
(Li et al., 2010), that rabbit coccidiosis in Taiwanese pet shops and farms was 46.2% and 41.7%, respectively. A difference between prevalence rates might be attributed to management fac-tors such as housing and the use of chemoprophylaxis (
Chowdhury and Fraser, 2008), various sampling methods, rabbit breeds and feed and poor hygienic conditions (
AbouLaila, 2020;
Heker et al., 2017; Jing et al., 2012). The prevalence rates of mixed and single infections with two to three types of
Eimeria from 90 rabbit feces samples showed 14.44% and 85.56%, respectively (Fig 3). Through running rabbit stool tests, we found
Eimeria, single-infection 13/90 (14.4%), dual-infection 39/90 (43.3%) and triple-infection 38/90 (42.2%) and we did not have a quadruple infection (Fig 4). The samples collected from Riyadh city were 32 infected samples out of a total of 70 rabbit faeces samples. Mixed species of
Eimeria were obtained,
E. coecicola + E. magna + E. exigua which constituted 10/70 (14.2%), followed by
E. flavescens + E. magna + E. Exigua 7/70(10%),
E. magna + E. exigua 5/70 (7.1%),
E. coecicola + E. exigua 3/70(4.2%). While, single-infection was in small proportions
E. magna 3/70 (4.2%),
E. coecicola 2/70 (2.8%) and
E. stiedai 2/70 (2.8%), respectively (Fig 5). The samples collected from Al Kharj city were 26 infected samples out of a total of 70 rabbit faeces samples. The single-infection species of
Eimeria magna was obtained 3/70 (4.2%). While mixed species of
Eimeria were obtained in triple-infection and they were more present,
E. coecicola + E. flavescens + E. magna 12/70 (17.1%), followed by dual-infection,
E. coecicola + E. exigua 7/70 (10%), then
E. magna + E. exigua 2/70 (2.8%), respectively (Fig 6). The samples collected from Dilam city were 31 infected samples out of a total of 70 rabbit faeces samples. The single-infection specie of
E. magna and
E. stiedae were obtained 2/70 (2.8%) and 2/70 (2.8%). While mixed types of
Eimeria were obtained through dual infection, they were more present,
E. magna + E. exigua11/70 (15.7%), followed by triple-infection,
E. coecicola + E. flavescens + E. exigua 9/70 (12.8%),
then E. coecicola + E. exigua 5/70 (7.1%) and
E. coecicola + E. flavescens 2/70 (2.8%), respectively (Fig 7). The morphometric measurements of the oocysts of these
Eimeria species obtained from the infected rabbits are shown in (Table 2). Five different species of
Eimeria were recognized as having been found in the rabbits’ feces investigated below (Fig 8). Concurrent infections observed included species collected from naturally infected domestic rabbits.
Eimeria exigua
The sporulated oocysts of
E. exigua appeared Spheroidal in shape and measured 15.7 (12-16) μm in length and 15.7 (12-16) μm in width and do not have a micropyle. There is no oocyst residuum (Fig 8A). This research aligns with the survey results (
Elshahawy and Elgoniemy, 2018;
Yakimoff, 1934).
Eimeria magna
The sporulated oocysts of
E. magna appeared ovoid in shape and measured 24 (22-27) μm in length and 14.4 (14-17) μm in width and had a micropyle. There existed an oocyst residuum (Fig 8B). It was discovered that the oocysts of this parasite are similar to but slightly different from the oocysts of
E. magna described by
(Razavi et al., 2010).
Eimeria stiedae
The sporulated oocysts of
Eimeria stiedae appeared cylindrical to elongate ellipsoid in shape and measured 29.3 (25-30) μm in length and 18 (16-18) μm in width and had a micropyle. There existed an oocyst residuum (Fig 8C) and they were found to be similar to those of the
Eimeria medium. However, these are only minor distinctions
(Li et al., 2016).
Eimeria coecicola
The sporulated oocysts of
E. coecicola appeared cylindrical in shape and measured 24.8 (23-29) μm in length and 13.6 (12-16) μm in width and had a micropyle. There existed an oocyst residuum (Fig 8D). These findings are in line with those of a survey con-ducted by (
Ras, 2020;
Li et al., 2016), with some minor variations.
Eimeria flavescens
The sporulated oocysts of
E. flavescens appeared ovoid in shape and measured 24.8 (22-29) μm in length and 17.6 (15-18) μm in width and had a micropyle. There existed an oocyst residuum (Fig 8F). This study is in line with the survey performed by (
Elshahawy and Elgoniemy, 2018;
Li et al., 2016), with some minor changes.
Rabbits infected with
E. magna, E. exigua, E. flavescens, E. coecicola and
E. stiedae were subjected to a histopathological analysis of their jejunum (A), ileum (B), cecum (C), end cecum (D) and liver (E) and (F). Histopathological change, the
E. magna, E. exigua is found in the superficial epithelium of the jejunum and ileum. Various parasitic developmental stages, such as gametocytes and oocysts, and multiple schizonts occupying the sites of intestinal absorptive epithelium, as well as multispots of bleeding and inflammation with diffuse infiltration of lymphocytes (Fig 9), are seen in the jejunum and ileum during a histopathological examination. This is consistent with several studies
(Ogolla et al., 2018; Elhendy et al., 2018). E. flavescens is found in the superficial epithelium of the caecum and
E. coecicola in the epithelium of the end cecum
(Norton et al., 1979). Histopathological changes in the cecum and end cecum, different developmental parasitic stages, including gametocytes and oocysts in addition to multiple schizonts occupying the sites of intestinal absorptive epithelium, multi-spot of hemorrhage, Focal steatosis and inflammation with diffuse infiltration of lymphocytes (Fig 10). This is consistent with several studies
(Elhendy et al., 2018). Lesions in liver tissue sections from infected rabbits were largely confined to the liver and bile ducts and consisted primarily of extensive bile duct hyperplasia. The bile ducts are markedly enlarged and lined with hyperplastic columnar epithelial cells arranged in multiple branched papillary lobes extending into the bile duct lumen, resembling adenomatous hyperplasia with the presence of parasite developmental stages. Many stages of protozoa such as microgametocytes, macrogametocytes and oocysts have also been observed. Inflammation with severe hemorrhage and diffuse lymphocytic infiltration in many areas was also observed (Fig 11). This is consistent with several studies (
Al-Saeed et al., 2017;
Al-Naimi et al., 2012).
