24d • Health and Wellness
Encephalitozoon cuniculi: Why Cull Is the Responsible Choice
Encephalitozoon cuniculi (EC) isn’t just a “head tilt” or “special needs” condition—it’s a systemic, zoonotic parasitic infection that permanently damages the brain, kidneys, and liver. Once neurological signs like torticollis appear, the animal is already suffering from severe lesions in the central nervous system, including granulomatous encephalitis and neuronal necrosis, as documented in Rodríguez-Tovar et al. (2016, Journal of Pathogens). These lesions don’t heal; they leave the rabbit with lasting neurological deficits, chronic renal inflammation, and a compromised immune system. Even if the parasite load is reduced through treatment, the rabbit remains permanently damaged and continues to shed spores in urine and feces, posing a risk to other rabbits and even to immunocompromised humans. For this reason, agricultural and responsible breeding programs classify EC-positive animals showing symptoms as culls—not out of cruelty, but as an act of containment and welfare. Euthanasia prevents ongoing suffering and limits transmission within a herd, ensuring the health of the remaining stock and the ethical integrity of the breeding program.
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Encephalitozoon cuniculi: Why Cull Is the Responsible Choice
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