Blood glucose, plasma osmolarity and urea and creatinine clearance in rabbits artificially infected with intestinal coccidia

Two groups of ten coprologically oocyst free rabbits were infected with 2x1 0(5) or 4x10(5) coccidia oocysts composed of Eimeria flavescens (7%), E. ma tsubayashi (9%), E. magna (12%), E. neoleporis (19%), E. perforans (21%) an d E. media (32%). A third group served as the control. Only three infected animals developed full-blown disease with diarrhoea. The others suffered fr om a subclinical form of the disease. Shortly before and then on days 4 and 10 after infection, blood glucose levels were determined, and plasma osmol arity and urea and creatinine clearance were calculated. Throughout the obs ervation period a decline in blood glucose levels and plasma osmolarity was observed In parallel, a pronounced elevation of urea and creatinine cleara nce was found.