Natural besnoitiosis in a rabbit

Abstract

An adult female rabbit was submitted for necropsy after sudden death. Pneumonia and nephritis were diagnosed by gross examination. On histological examination, Besnoitia cysts were seen in the pulmonary interalveolar tissue. The Besnoitia cysts were morphologically normal in appearance, measured 127 to 185/tm in diameter and provoked mild mononuclear inflammatory reaction. To the best of our knowledge there has been no previous report of natural besnoitiosis in rabbits.