Passalurus ambiguus Infestation: Pinworms

Passalurus ambiguus is a very common parasite of domes­tic rabbits. Adult worms are located in the cecum and other areas of the large intestine (Fig. 6.70). The identifi­cation of the eggs on fecal flotation and/or the adult worms in feces or in the large intestine will confirm the diagnosis. Infections with moderate numbers of Passa- lurus are considered to be relatively harmless, although clinicians frequently elect to treat affected animals. However, impaired weight gains, poor breeding perform­ance, and occasionally deaths have been attributed to heavy burdens of pinworms. Dermatoxys veligera is a common oxyurid in North American wild rabbits and may rarely infect domestic rabbits.