Coccidiosis in wild rabbits, Oryctolagus cuniculus (L.) at a site on the coastal plain in eastern Australia

Abstract

Fourteen samples of about 50 rabbits each were shot at 8-weekly intervals on the south coast of New South Wales near Moruya during the years 1966-68. Seven species of Eimeria (E. stiedae, E, media, E. perforans, E. irresidua, E. magna, E. piriformis, and E. exigua) were recorded in the faeces. The oocyst counts of each species had a highly significant negative regression with dried eye lens weight, which is used to indicate the age of the rabbit. When oocyst count was adjusted for lens weightthe seasonal variation showed a winter peakin 1967, but none in 1968, possibly because of the drought that occurred in the area in that year. In multiple regression analyses relating oocyst count to various other variates, eye lens weight (age), kidney fat index, and liver weight were significant variables. Rainfall and sex of host each increased the significance of the multiple regression in one species.