Prevalence of Endoparasites and their Zoonotic Significance in Wild Rabbits of Ahar City, Iran

In this study, 30 wild rabbits in Ahar city of Iran from April to June 2020, to determine the prevalence of Endo parasites were selected by hunting with weapons or trapping and were prepared for necropsy. They were euthanized and inspected for helminths and protozoa infection. Faecal sampling was carried out directly from recti and the oocysts or cysts were isolated using sedimentation and floatation techniques and the sporulated oocyst were identified based on morphological. Endo parasites infestation was encountered in 12 (40%) of Necropside rabbits. Two different Nematodes and one species of Metacestoda and two different protozoa were identified in the contaminated cases. The endo parasites found were identified as: Passalurus ambigus (6.66%), Trichostrongylus retortaeformis (6.66%), cysticercus pisiformis (13.33%), Eimeria magna (10%), Eimeria steidae (3.33%). Wild rabbits are a potential source of human parasitic zoonosis. Public health concerns indicate the need for epidemiological studies on zoonotic diseases affecting wildlife species that are a source of food for humans. In this respect, the role of wild rabbits as reservoirs of zoonotic parasites has been widely documented.