encephalitozoonosis

[muchloveforbunny]

Hi, my vet is out of town. So I waited all week to talk to another vet. Basically, my baby bunny died of encephalitozoonosis. And this vet I spoke with did not know about encephalitozoonosis, but read out of a book that my remaining bunny may or may not get it.

My concerns are:

1. Will my cats get encephalitozoonosis? Since they have already been exposed to the rabbit, do they already have it?

2. Will me or my husband get encephalitozoonosis? No we don't have AIDS or cancer, so we are not immuno-suppressed. But you never know.

3. When i have a baby, will my baby get encephalitozoonosis, since babies have low immunity.

4. Also,what the heck!!!I am seriously MAD! I got these bunnies and asked up and down are they sick, because I have two cats. MY MOTHER HAS CANCER AND PET THIS BUNNY. People with cancer can get encephalitozoonosis! That is the one thing the vet could confirm from her book! My mother could already have it!!!! My mom is very sick!!!!

I am really MAD!!!

I am even more mad because the first 3 questions could not be answered by the vet, because no one in this God forsaken place even know anything about rabbits!!!

I also don't even know what to do with this rabbit who is apparently healthy. If I give it back to the store, they will just kill it. If I give it to the Humane Society, they will just kill it. So that means, no one will take it.

And if I need to get rid of it and make the decision it is not healthy in my family, esp because my mom comes to visit me a lot, then I have to euthanize it. I have to euthanize a happy, healthy looking bunny. Thats not fair!!!!

I don't even know what to do!!!! It's just not fair!!!!

If anyone knows anything about encephalitozoonosis in humans and cats, please let me know. I couldn't find ANYTHING on the internet except all mammals can get it.I don't know if we can get it. If my cats can get it. Just thateveryone can get it. And that my mom, because she has cancer, can definitely get it.

I just don't know what to do.

 

[SunnieBunnie Rabbitry]

I am sending you a PM with some more information on this protozoan parasite.

As for your concerns, I'll take a quick browse and see what I can come up with & I'll get back to you with whatever I can find - good or bad.

~Sunshine

 

[SunnieBunnie Rabbitry]

Here are some websites with more information -

http://www.rabbit.org/journal/3-2/e-cuniculi.html

http://www.petplace.com/articles/artPrinterFriendly.asp?conID=17384

http://www.merckvetmanual.com/mvm/index.jsp?cfile=htm/bc/171335.htm- This one has some reference to humans with immunodeficiencies.

http://www.vetpathology.org/cgi/content/full/37/2/113- This site appears to be very thorough and has a section on Human Disease in relation to this topic.

Basically, Yes - domestic catscan contract Encephalitozoonosis and it was also noted that humans with immunodeficiencies have also contracted this as well.



~Sunshine

 

[naturestee]

Encephalitozoonosis is often referred to as E. cuniculi. You might have more luck doing a search with that.

From what I know, a large percentage of rabbits have been exposed to EC, but they aren't all affected by it. Many live out long lives with no problems at all and only a very low level of the parasite in their bodies. Others get conditions such as head tilt, paralysis, kidney problems, etc.

Here's a couple more articles:

http://homepage3.nifty.com/mitosis/sub1e.htm-mentions that immunosupressed humans with AIDS can contract it, doesn't mention immunosuppression from other sources such as chemotherapy.

http://www.ontariorabbits.org/health/healthinfo10.html

http://www.houserabbit.co.uk/rwf/articles/ecuniculi.htm

http://www.rabbitnetwork.org/articles/treatment.shtml