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how do vets test for ec?

shauny is goin to the vets tomoz (i think he has mites on his ears), although it really looks like dandruff, heard of ''walkin dandruff'' so just want to be sure,

but id like to ask my vet to test for ec, is this done by a blood test?. and if it is should i get a complete blood check on him?.
x
 
Yes, blood test I think. One of mine had blood tests last year and I think I paid an extra £12 for them to test for EC (all clear thank goodness).
 
shauny is goin to the vets tomoz (i think he has mites on his ears), although it really looks like dandruff, heard of ''walkin dandruff'' so just want to be sure,

but id like to ask my vet to test for ec, is this done by a blood test?. and if it is should i get a complete blood check on him?.
x

Blood testing for EC involves a series of blood tests. One 'high reading' for EC titres in an asymptomatic Rabbit only indicates exposure to EC, not active infection. So further blood tests are required to see if the titres rise or remain static.
If your Rabbit is not showing symptoms I would not have any blood tests taken. You can treat your Bun with a course of Fenbendazole. A 9 day course 2-4 times a year is currently recommended.

http://www.hyperdrug.co.uk/prodinfo.asp?number=PANACURRAB

Janex
 
EC is tested by a non routine blood test.

I would discuss this with your vet so that you can make an informed descision based on what you are told. Reading up and having a better understanding is a good idea as you can then use this to work out your questions.

Ther is lots of information on the internet about it inlcuding:
http://www.rabbitwelfare.co.uk/resources/content/info-sheets/ecuniculi.htm
http://www.rabbit.org/journal/3-2/e-cuniculi.html
http://www.rabbitnetwork.org/articles/treatment.shtml
http://www.houserabbit.co.uk/rwf/index.php?section=ec.html
http://www.thebrc.org/health.htm
 
Blood testing for EC involves a series of blood tests. One 'high reading' for EC titres in an asymptomatic Rabbit only indicates exposure to EC, not active infection. So further blood tests are required to see if the titres rise or remain static.
If your Rabbit is not showing symptoms I would not have any blood tests taken. You can treat your Bun with a course of Fenbendazole. A 9 day course 2-4 times a year is currently recommended.

http://www.hyperdrug.co.uk/prodinfo.asp?number=PANACURRAB

Janex

im not sure if im bein over protective (my o/h def thinks i am).

but he binkis quite a bit, but recently he kinda head binkis and looses his balance- somethin which is strange for him (he always crashes into things but this seems different). he grooms himself ok (im watchin for loss of balance, which doesnt happen)

could this be early ec?.
x
 
EC is tested by a non routine blood test.

I would discuss this with your vet so that you can make an informed descision based on what you are told. Reading up and having a better understanding is a good idea as you can then use this to work out your questions.

Ther is lots of information on the internet about it inlcuding:
http://www.rabbitwelfare.co.uk/resources/content/info-sheets/ecuniculi.htm
http://www.rabbit.org/journal/3-2/e-cuniculi.html
http://www.rabbitnetwork.org/articles/treatment.shtml
http://www.houserabbit.co.uk/rwf/index.php?section=ec.html
http://www.thebrc.org/health.htm


:wave:thanku gonna have a read.
x
 
There are two tests available in commercial labs for E. cuniculi
1. Blood test - this measures the amount of antibodies to E. cuniculi in the blood. Can be useful for getting an assessment of whether there is active infection, in which case there is often a higher antibody titre. The problem is that unfortunately the antibody levels don't decline quickly or in a predictable way, unlike most other infections. This means that we can't rely on repeating the test to see if antibodies are dropping (infection clearing) or rising (infection still going). The other issue is that a bunny that encountered E. cuniculi months ago will have a positive result and we can't tell whether that means they are still infected or whether infection was cleared but antibodies haven't decreased yet. And do bunnies infected in utero become immunotolerant of the bug (has always been present so the body doesn't recognise it as abnormal and doesn't mount an immune response), so false negatives may occur.
2. Test for E. cuniculi DNA in urine/faeces - can show whether the protozoa is currently present and so is more definitive. however, the protozoa are not continuously shed and false negatives are much more likely.

we tend to test using the blood method BUT take into account clinical signs and exposure probability to have everything in context.
I feel that any positive should get a panacur course as it can be a fatal disease and can pass to immunosuppressed humans so we need to try and control it. This does mean that we end up treating rabbits that may actually have cleared the infection but as panacur is a relatively safe drug it is often a more sensible option to treat than wait and see.
We need more data on testing and treatment before we can really get a good idea of the ideal protocol but there is no funding out there to do the work :(
 
im not sure if im bein over protective (my o/h def thinks i am).

but he binkis quite a bit, but recently he kinda head binkis and looses his balance- somethin which is strange for him (he always crashes into things but this seems different). he grooms himself ok (im watchin for loss of balance, which doesnt happen)

could this be early ec?.
x

Hi
Please could someone tell me what binkis is and also what ec is?
:?
 
Hi
Please could someone tell me what binkis is and also what ec is?
:?

Bnkies are an enthusiastic mid-air jump and twist performed by a happy rabbit. EC or E.Cuniculi stands for Encephalitozoon Cuniculi which is a protozoa which is often carried asymptomatically in rabbits but which can cause a serious of serious symptoms to develop in rabbits who have become immuno-compromised against it.
 
Bnkies are an enthusiastic mid-air jump and twist performed by a happy rabbit. EC or E.Cuniculi stands for Encephalitozoon Cuniculi which is a protozoa which is often carried asymptomatically in rabbits but which can cause a serious of serious symptoms to develop in rabbits who have become immuno-compromised against it.


Thanks Sooz

Midnight always does "binkies" in his run. I thought he was jumping cause of flies ha-ha:oops:
I have a happy bunny :D
 
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