E. cuniculi - best practices?

[TheRightMelody]

This is my first year raising rabbits. After reading extensively about E. cuniculi; I think I've come to the conclusion that it may next to impossible to source and raise rabbits that are 100% clear of this disease. I have 10 rabbits. They all look healthy, but that doesn't mean they might not be a carrier. I am planning to do the Safeguard goat wormer for 9 days twice a year as a precaution. Would the proper dose be 2.2 ml for a 10 pound rabbit? I have a litter of 10 beautiful 2 week old Am. Chinchilla - all big and healthy looking. Should I plan to do the 9 day protocol on them at 8 weeks? I've read so many articles on this disease and since it is zoonotic, I would like to be safe and have healthy rabbits.
https://www.dovepress.com/encephali...VsiaA5T6eqq8rHQ9DyWNsUoY3J7CVG-XajTSX4#r_ref7

 

[majorv]

We raised and showed rabbits for 8 years and only had a small handful of cases of EC during all that time.

Some breeders worm their rabbits as a general preventative, but many don’t. The thought is that if you’re striving to have a herd with strong immune systems then why would you do preventative worming. It’s your choice but If you decide to do it then just follow one of the schedules that works for you.

I do remember that when we had to give Safeguard goat wormer to our 5 lb Tans we dosed at .4cc. As a preventative, though, I think it’s 20mg per kg of body weight. Safeguard is well tolerated in rabbits.

 

[JBun]

The only time I would consider doing the 9 day treatment is if I had a rabbit recently exposed to another rabbit with a confirmed or suspected case of EC, or if a rabbit might become exposed to the parasite by being around other rabbits that could be infected. This is based on the 2002 study that was conducted showing that it helped prevent the establishment of the parasite after the rabbits were exposed to it.

With new rabbits brought in some people will do the 28 day treatment in case a rabbit is a carrier, to help knock down a possible EC load, but this isn't something I have ever done.

Dosage is 20mg/kg, about 0.1ml per lb of body weight of the 10% liquid suspension. So a 10 lb rabbit would get about 1ml once a day or split into two doses.
http://wildpro.twycrosszoo.org/S/00dis/Parasitic/Encephalitozoonosis.htm
http://www.medirabbit.com/EN/Neurology/Paper/fenbendazole.pdf