Members of the microsporidial genus Encephalitozoon have the capacity to infect both mammals and birds, and E. cuniculi is most commonly found in rabbits. With a seroprevalence ranging up to 85%, E. cuniculi can be a problem in pet rabbits as well as in food production and laboratory animal science. While most infections are likely subclinical, there are three main clinical presentations: neurological, renal, and ocular. Typical clinical signs including vestibular disease and phacoclastic uveitis may develop with initial or relapsing infection, while renal infection is usually progressive and associated with non-specific clinical signs. High-sensitivity/specificity ante mortem diagnostic options are lacking, and serological testing most often provides adjunct rather than definitive information such that physical examination and other diagnostics are used more so for ruling out other differentials and comorbidities, rather than confirming infection. In the veterinary community, treatment regimens are variable given the lack of thorough studies and a consensus. The aim of this document is to present the available literature to give a concise review of this organism and its infection of rabbits as well as to propose guidelines and protocols for diagnostics and treatment regimens. In addition, the current challenges and recommendations for further studies are discussed.

Avian and Exotic Animal Clinic Indianapolis IN 46268 USA

Biosphere Lab Louisville KY 40299 USA

Clinic for Small Animals Clinical Department for Small Animals and Horses University of Veterinary Medicine 1210 Vienna Austria

Departamento de Medicina Veterinaria Universidade Federal do Paranã Curitiba 80035 050 PR Brazil

Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine University of Miami Miller School of Medicine Miami FL 33136 USA

Exotic Animal Veterinary Center Pasadena CA 91107 USA

Graham Veterinary Consulting LLC Madison AL 35758 USA

Institute of Parasitology Department of Biological Sciences and Pathobiology University of Veterinary Medicine 1210 Vienna Austria

Research Center for Respiratory Diseases Universite de Tours 37044 Tours France

The Royal School for Veterinary Studies The Roslin Institute The University of Edinburgh Roslin EH25 9RG UK

Unit of Parasitology Mycology Tropical Medicine Hospital Bretonneau 37032 Tours France

Veterinary Research Institute 621 00 Brno Czech Republic

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