Recipient Organization
UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE
2621 MORGAN CIR
KNOXVILLE,TN 37996-4540
Performing Department
COMPARATIVE MEDICINE
Non Technical Summary
Historically, literature describing treatment of E. cuniculi infections in rabbits has stated it is "unrewarding" and "no drug has been shown to be efficacious". Most rabbits with Encephalitozoonosis are isolated or culled. To evaluate the safety and efficacy of albendazole for the curative treatment of E. cuniculi infection in immunocompromised and non-immunocompromised rabbits.
Animal Health Component
25%
Research Effort Categories
Basic
(N/A)
Applied
25%
Developmental
75%
Goals / Objectives
The overall objective of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of albendazole for the curative treatment of E. cuniculi in rabbits. Twenty-four animals will be utilized to validate the efficacy of albendazole in the acute phase of E. cuniculi infection in rabbits. An additional study at a later date would evaluate the chronic phase of the infection. Diagnostic tests, including indirect fluorescent antibody techniques, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays, post-mortem microscopic examination of tissues and polymerase chain reaction assays will be utilized to confirm the presence, absence or complete elimination of the E. cuniculi. If substantiated by this study, albendazole could be utilized as a safe, practical, inexpensive and curative treatment for the elimination of E. cuniculi in rabbits worldwide.
Project Methods
Disease free rabbits will be infected orally with E. cuniculi, tested for the presence of anti-E. cuniculi antibodies, randomly divided into treatment groups, then treated with or without albendazole. At prescribed time points serum and urine samples will be obtained and analyzed. At the end of the study, rabbits will be euthanized with an overdose of barbiturates, and tissue samples collected and analyzed. To facilitate rapid turnaround and minimize costs, all diagnostic tests will be developed and performed by the State Diagnostic Laboratory at the University of Georgia. Analysis of the variance or paired student t-test will be utilized for statistical analysis of the data. All rabbits will be housed in an AAALAC, International accredited animal facility and receive standard husbandry. Specific room entry, cleaning, and handling procedures will be in place to minimize the risk of inadvertently spreading E. cuniculi to other animals or rooms. Five days will be allowed
for the animals to acclimatize to the new environment after shipping. Treatment, when administered, will begin 24 days after oral infection and continue for 21 days.