Name
Clinical presentation, treatment, and outcome of suspected Toxoplasmosis in the domestic rabbit
Description
Clinical Toxoplasmosis is considered rare in the domestic rabbit and few reports exist describing the disease. The purpose of this case series is to describe the clinical signs, diagnostic findings, treatment, and outcome of suspected clinical Toxoplasmosis in domestic rabbits. Medical records at a single private tertiary referral hospital were reviewed for rabbits with positive Toxoplasma gondii titers and concurrent neurological clinical disease. Seven cases were included in this case series. Neurological signs included head tilt, nystagmus, circling, proprioceptive deficits, cranial nerve deficits, tetraparesis, intention tremors, and ataxia or rolling. All animals had T. gondii serology performed and titers ranged from 1:64 to 1:1024. A CBC and chemistry were performed in 3 of 7 rabbits at the time of diagnosis. Ancillary diagnostics included skull CT, Encephalitozoon cuniculi serology, Neospora serology, Sarcocystis serology and echocardiogram. Two animals were treated with ponazuril alone, 3 were treated with ponazuril and TMS, 1 was treated with TMS alone, and 1 was euthanized before treatment was initiated. Of the 7 rabbits, 1 did not respond to therapy, 2 showed initial improvement but later developed clinical relapse, 1 showed mild improvement after prolonged therapy, 2 were euthanized due to concerns regarding quality of life, and follow up was lost for 1 rabbit. Toxoplasma gondii may be an underdiagnosed etiology of neurological disease in domestic rabbits. Further research into the pathogenesis of T. gondii and pharmacokinetic (pKa) and pharmacodynamic (PD) studies of anti- protozoal agents in rabbits are needed to determine effective treatment protocols for the disease.
Session Type
Lecture (25 Min)