COCCIDIA IN HARE (LEPUS-EUROPAEUS) REARED IN UMBRIA, ITALY - BIOEPIDEMIOLOGICAL STUDY

A study to elucidate the main species of coccidia was carried out on b reeder hare reared in an Umbrian intensive game breeding farm and on j uvenile hare reared first in cages and subsequently in 9 protected are as in the Province of Perugia (Italy). A total of 2,100 faecal samples from game hare were collected monthly between January 1990-December 1 993. Results showed that coccidia were not present in the breeder and juvenile hare kept in cages; conversely, Eimeria leporis and E. semisc ulpta were detected in the juvenile hare reared in eight of the protec ted areas but showed a wide range of variability, In addition E. rober tsoni, E. townsendi, E. hungarica and E. europea were isolated from th e dead hare reared in one protected area with a high coccidial prevale nce.