Journal of Veterinary and Applied Sciences

Abstract
The occurrence of intestinal parasites in rabbits reared in Nsukka area of Enugu State, Nigeria was evaluated. The study design was a cross sectional survey. The areas in which the rabbitries surveyed were located included Obukpa, Odenigbo, Orba, Nsukka Town and University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN) Staff Quarters. Faecal samples were collected from a total of 150 rabbits in the study area for the study. Salt floatation technique was used to examine the faecal samples for helminth ova and coccidia oocysts. Data on the occurrence of parasites in the faecal samples were subjected to descriptive and Chi square statistics. Results showed that none of the faecal samples had helminth ova/eggs, but 80.7% of the faecal samples (121 out of 150 samples) had Eimeria oocysts. The percentage occurrence of Eimeria oocysts in faecal samples collected from the specific areas of Nsukka studied were: 75% in Obukpa, 80% each in Odenigbo and Orba, 76% in Nsukka Town and 85% in the UNN Staff Quarters. There was no significant difference (p > 0.05) in the occurrence of Eimeria oocysts in the faecal samples of rabbits from the specific areas from which samples were collected. The results of the study suggest that infection with Eimeria species may be a significant health issue in rabbits, and should be of concern to rabbit farmers in the Nsukka area of Enugu State, Nigeria. It is therefore recommended that attention should be focused on the control of intestinal coccidiosis of rabbits in the study area.

Keywords: Intestinal parasites; Helminths, Eimeria species; Rabbits; Occurrence; Nsukka Nigeria.

How to cite this article:
Akpa PO and Chukwu CC (2023). Occurrence on intestinal parasites in rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) reared in Nsukka area of Enugu State, Nigeria. Journal of Veterinary and Applied Sciences, 13(2): 214 – 218.

*Correspondence: E-mail: polycap.akpa@unn.edu.ng Phone: +2348033506623