E. cuniculi are carried in the blood to other parts of the body, particularly neural tissue. Spores from infected urine can remain in the environment for a month. The parasites can infect and be shed by many other animals but seldom cause clinical disease in other animals. A high number of rabbits throughout the United States have been infected at some time during their life, but few come down with the clinical disease. Animals who are compromised are more likely to manifest clinical disease.
Neurological damage can be evident long after the parasites leave the kidneys.
Necropsies seldom show active parasites in the kidneys but may show scarring where the parasites have been. Testing positive to the parasite only means that the animal has been exposed and is putting forth an immune response. It does not mean that an otherwise healthy animal will show symptoms of the disease. Serology tests recognize immune response but do not distinguish early infections from long term or chronic infections. Our Own Conclusions Even with a high titer to E. cuniculi, a rabbit will probably not become disabled.