Author(s) :

Ruth Kianda, Arthur Amisi, Grâce Chyromod, Albert Tshinyama.

Volume/Issue :

Abstract :

Rabbit production is expanding in peri-urban areas of Kinshasa, but information on Eimeria infection remains limited. This cross-sectional study assessed Eimeria oocyst positivity and associated host factors in rabbits from selected peri-urban farms and described management and biosecurity practices reported by farmers. A structured questionnaire was administered to 50 rabbit farmers, while coprological examination was conducted on 158 rabbits from five farms. Fecal samples were examined using flotation and McMaster techniques to detect and quantify Eimeria oocysts. Overall, 139/158 rabbits were positive, corresponding to a positivity of 88.0% (95% CI: 82.0–92.2). Positivity was highest in weaned (95.4%) and growing rabbits (91.7%) and lower in reproductive females (61.1%) and males (20.0%). Because of sparse cells and quasiseparation, associations were assessed using Firth penalized logistic regression. Reproductive females and males showed lower odds of positivity than growing rabbits, whereas no significant difference was observed between weaned and growing rabbits. Differences were also observed among sampled farms, although farm and geographical effects could not be separated because only one farm was investigated per commune. These findings indicate frequent Eimeria infection in the investigated rabbit farms and highlight physiological category as an important host-related correlate of positivity. Larger multilevel studies incorporating species identification and systematic clinical assessment are needed to characterize infection determinants and disease significance more precisely.

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