Symptoms. Diagnosis. Treatment, 29 



Coccidium cuniciili) prol)al)ly occurs in the same manner as 

 does the infection by pathogenic bacteria which cause contagious 

 rhinitis (see page 15). Dampness of the bins and the straw 

 appears to be favorable to the appearance and spread of the 

 disease. Young animals preferably are susceptible to the 

 disease; older animals are usually aifected slightly and tem- 

 porarily. 



Symptoms. The clinical picture of the disease is very 

 similar to that of contagious rhinitis (see page 16). There 

 is at first moisture around the nares and a scanty mucous 

 secretion. At the same time there is sneezing and sniffing and 

 the animals sometimes rub their noses with their front feet. 

 There is slight fever and accelerated respiration. The sick 

 animals are at first fairly lively and their appetite is good ; but 

 after a few days they become listless; they frequently grind 

 their teeth and there is complete lack of appetite. In the mean- 

 time, the nasal discharge has become more profuse and the 

 respiration becomes more and more difficult. Frequently, 

 symptoms of conjunctivitis and stomatitis set in. 



In those cases where the coccidia have invaded the middle 

 ear from the pharynx, one sees oblique position of the head, 

 staggering and rolling in consequence of the involvement of 

 the semicircular canals ; tliese disturbances may at first be only 

 transitory, but become permanent later on. More intense ex- 

 ternal irritation may bring aboat convulsions. Later on tliere 

 is profuse diarrhea, rapid emaciation, and finally death follows. 



Diagnosis. Coccidial rhinitis can be diagnosed after the 

 microscopic detection of coccidia, which are always found in 

 enormous numbers in the nasal secretions or in the conjunctivae. 

 In this manner the affection can also be differentiated from 

 bacterial contagious rhinitis. In mange of the ears catarrhal 

 symptoms of the mucosae of the head are absent. 



Treatment. Local pathologic conditions may be treated 

 by irrigation or applications of a 3 per cent boracic acid or 

 a 1/4 to 1 per cent solution of sulphate of zinc or copper sulphate, 

 or of a 1 per cent solution of creolin. Braun recommends in 

 addition the internal administration of flores sulphuris with 

 finely powdered sulphate of sodium in knife-point doses. 



The prophylaxis is based upon the same principles as in 

 bacterial contagious rhinitis (see page 17). Young animals 

 should alwa5^s be separated from the older ones as early as 

 possible. 



Literature. Braun, Kaninehenkrkht., 1907, 50. — Martin, Eev. vet., 1909 27.S. — 

 Eailliet, Zool. med., 1S95, 141.— Ziirn, D. Z. f. Tm., 1878. I, 24.— Vortr f Tzte 

 1878, I, 2 Fl. 



