30 DISEASES OF RABBITS 



to determine the different degrees of infesta- 

 tion as described in tlie literature on the sub- 

 ject, but for convenience of description, it is 

 advisable to differentiate hepatic, intestinal and 

 nasal coccidiosis. 



Hepatic Coccidiosis 

 In light infestations symptoms sometimes do 

 not develop and the condition is found only 

 post mortem. When the infestation is heavy, 

 however, the animal becomes dull, shoves lassi- 

 tude, appetite poor, fur dull, rough and easily 

 pulled out, gradually becomes emaciated, the 

 abdomen ascitic (pot belly), staggering gait, 

 often convulsions and death after a few weeks. 

 There is always a profuse diarrhea and the 

 feces are swarming with parasites. 



Intestinal Coccidiosis 



When the intestines are heavily infested the 

 disease usually takes a more acute course, 

 sometimes carrying off young individuals in a 

 few hoiu"s after symptoms showing dullness, 

 apathy, anorexia and coma. In these cases the 

 disease may be mistaken for hemorrhagic sep- 

 ticemia, and as coccidiosis is often coexistent 

 with that infection, it is possible to obtain a 

 definite diagnosis only by bacteriological meth- 

 ods. In less acute cases, the symptoms are 

 dullness, apathy, anorexia, emaciation, diar- 

 rhea and marasmus. In more chronic cases the 

 abdomen becomes ascitic, as no doubt the liver 



