There are lots of different parasites that affect rabbits. A vet once told me that they only know of 2% of all existing parasites and what they do.
Coccidiosis
Coccidiosis is a worldwide protozoal disease of rabbits. We cover it completely in the diseases article; however, it has two forms, hepatic (liver) and intestinal. Both of these are transmitted by water contaminates with poops floating in it, or a floor with poops on it where the rabbit gets fed.
Hepatic treatment is difficult because the rabbit’s tools, pen, equipment and living arrangements must be thoroughly cleaned as well as treatment with various medicines administered by a vet.
Intestinal coccidiosis can happen in all rabbits, the only way that infection can be seen is during a necropsy where lesions can be seen on the intestines.
Treatment is similar to hepatic coccidiosis, but only one medicine can be given over a period of time.
Tapeworm
Adult tapeworm is rare in rabbits; however, larval tapeworm cysts are common. Rabbits are intermediate hosts for two types of canine tapeworm, Taenia serialis and T pisiformis.
T pisiformis is rare in domestic rabbits, but common in wild ones. No direct contact with dogs is required to become infected, as rabbits can contract it through eating dried fecal matter from hay.
Treatment is not usually attempted, as the larvae will migrate to the liver and can kill the rabbit. Control is maintained by limiting the rabbit’s access to dogs and the area where dogs eat and their beds.
Baylisascaris procyonis is a round worm, and it has been found in rabbits. No treatment is available.
Ectoparasites
Ear mites (Psoroptes cuniculi) is a common parasite worldwide. Mites irritate the ear lining and cause lesions and thick brown crusts. Rabbits scratch their ears, lose weight, and may not be able to reproduce. Mites cause damage to the inner ear.
Never remove the crust. It can be very painful.
The mite is transmitted by direct contact.
Treatment is an approved miticide, injectable ivermectin, or selamectin.
Fur mites are common. Cheyletiella and Listrophorus, are found worldwide. They live on the skin and do not cause lesions like in mange. The fur mites don’t have any effect on a rabbit until the rabbit gets sick.
Fur mites are also known as “walking dandruff”.
They spread by direct contact.
Cheyletiella can be transmitted to humans and cause dermatitis on the arms.
Regular cleaning will prevent Cheyletiella mites.
Rabbits are rarely infested with teh scabes mites Sarcoptes scabiei or Notoedres cati.
Fleas such as Ctenocephalides felis, C canis and Pulex irritans can affect rabbits worldwide.
Encephalitozoonosis
Encephalitozoon cuniculi also known as E cuniculi is a primitive fungal infection that is a worldwide disease in 50-75% of rabbits. It can also effect mice, guinea pigs, rats and dogs.
It is spread by ingesting the spores which are shed through the urine of affected animals. The spores can be found 1 month after urination. In large numbers of affected animals, spores can live up to 2 months after urination. They survive in the environment up to 6 weeks in 22°C. The animal can shed the spores for up to 3 months.
E cuniculi migrates to the kidneys, central nervous system (CNS) and the eye’s lens, and cause convulsions, tremours or head tilt.
Head tilt is often caused by the bacterial infection of Pasteurella multocida. It is hard to tell whether it is caused by Pasteurella multocida or E cuniculi infection, because they usually occur together.