The Biology and Identification of the Coccidia (Apicomplexa) of Rabbits of the World

Dr. Duszynski, is Professor Emeritus Biology and past Chair of the Department of Biology, The University of New Mexico (UNM). He spent 33 years in academia, publishing numerous articles, monographs, and books, secured private, state and federal grants exceeding $8 million, and mentored > 25 masters and doctoral students and numerous undergraduates in his laboratory, before spending 8 years in administration. During his 41 year tenure at UNM, he taught many courses including parasitology, tropical biology and marine invertebrate biology, and took >1000 students to the neotropics (Belize, Jamaica, Mexico). Don has been a Visiting Research Associate Professor, Department of Physiology & Biochemistry, University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston, a Visiting Associate Professor, Department of Microbiology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, and Visiting Research Scholar, Kyoto University, Japan. Among the honors received are the Distinguished Service Award and the Clark P. Read Mentor Award from the American Society of Parasitologists (ASP), and the Distinguished Alumnus Award from the Department of Biology, Colorado State University.

Coccidiosis is an intestinal disease that affects several different animal species, including canines and humans, and is one of the most prevalent protozoal infections in North America. The causative agent is a protozoan that has the ability to multiply rapidly and cause major damage in the intestinal wall, rupturing the cells of the intestinal lining. The final stage, the oocyst, is extremely resistant to environmental stress and is difficult to completely remove from the environment. Oocysts are frequent contaminants of feed and water, and when the sporulated oocysts are ingested by other animals, they start the life cycle over in the new host. With the demand for rabbits in scientific research and for rabbit meat for human consumption increasing globally each year, rabbits are of epidemiologic significance for laboratory workers, university researchers, veterinarians, pet owners, and breeders.Up until now, there has been no taxonomic summation allowing easy parasite identification available for those species that infect rabbits. This book provides a reference that conceptually and historically summarizes the world's literature and also provides a quick guide to isolation procedures, identification, strategies for management, and available chemotherapy for these parasites of rabbits and what we know about their real and potential transmission to humans that could lead to dangerous health problems, like severe dehydration, vomiting, lethargy and even death.

Chapter One: IntroductionChapter Two: Lagomorpha Origins and Diversification Chapter Three: Coccidia (Eimeriidae) of the Family Ochotonidae: Genus OchotonaChapter Four: Coccidia (Eimeriidae) from the Family Leporidae: Genus BrachylagusChapter Five: Coccidia (Eimeriidae) from the Family Leporidae: Genus LepusChapter Six: Coccidia (Eimeriidae) from the Family Leporidae: Genus OryctolagusChapter Seven: Coccidia (Eimeriidae) from the Family Leporidae: Genus Sylvilagus Chapter Eight: Sarcocystidae Poche, 1913, the Predator-Prey Coccidia in Rabbits: Besnoitia, Sarcocystis, ToxoplasmaChapter Nine: Cryptosporidium and Cryptosporidiosis in RabbitsChapter Ten: Strategies for Management and Therapy Chapter Eleven: Summary and ConclusionsGlossaryIndex