Volume: 2, 2023
2nd International PhD Student’s Conference at the University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Poland:
ENVIRONMENT – PLANT – ANIMAL – PRODUCT
Abstract number: A032
DOI: https://doi.org/10.24326/ICDSUPL2.A032
Published online: 19 April 2023
ICDSUPL, 2, A032 (2023)
Urinary tract infection with Encephalitozoon cuniculi in domestic cavies
Anna Wilczyńska1*, Łukasz Adaszek1
1 Department of Epizootiology and Clinic of Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Life Sciences, Głęboka 30, 20-612 Lublin, Poland
* Corresponding author: anna.wilczynska@up.lublin.pl
Abstract
Cuniculosis is a disease caused by Encephalitozoon cuniculi. E.cuniculi is classified among to Microsporidia intracellular fungi commonly ascending in the environment. They are resistant to many external factors. The presence of these fungi has been found in many species of wild and domesticated mammals as well as birds, reptiles, amphibians and fish. Among domestic animals mainly met in rabbits and domestic cavies. In diseased animals the most common symptoms were observed in the nervous and urinary systems, as well as problems with the organ of sight, in addition, a few animals had problems with the respiratory system. The purpose of this study was to analyze the clinical course of encephalitozoonosis in 10 domestic cavies with urinary tract problems. Infection with E. cuniculi was confirmed in the animals included in the study by RT-PCR. In the affected animals, the most common finding was an increased amount of sediment in the urinary bladder in 4 cases. The remaining animals had chronic cystitis (3 animals), urinary stones in 1 case, and renal dysfunction in 2. The findings indicate that encephalitozoonosis may be one of the causes of urinary tract disorders in domestic cavies. Due to the low veterinarians’ awareness of this syndrome, in many cases it is not taken into account during differential diagnosis. Due to the fact that it is also a zoonosis, it is important is to conduct further research to determine how often this entity occurs in domestic cavies and other pets, and how often it is the primary cause of many diseases.
How to cite
A. Wilczyńska, Ł. Adaszek, 2023. Urinary tract infection with Encephalitozoon cuniculi in domestic cavies. In: 2nd International PhD Student’s Conference at the University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Poland: Environment – Plant – Animal – Product. https://doi.org/10.24326/ICDSUPL2.A032