Transcriptomic Responses of Rabbits to Infections by precocious line and Wild-Type Eimeria media: Revealing Molecular Signatures and Pathway Differences in Liver and Duodenum during the Peak and Terminal Phases of Oocyst Production

Abstract Eimeria media is a principal pathogen responsible for rabbit coccidiosis, targeting the rabbit's intestinal epithelial cells. This parasitism damages the intestinal mucosal barrier, initiating a systemic immune and inflammatory response that jeopardizes the sustainable growth of rabbit farming. To understand the implications of infection on the host's immune and metabolic responses, we employed RNA-Seq to analyze RNA from the liver and duodenum tissues of post-infected rabbits infected with both the precocious line and wild-type strains of Eimeria media. Comprehensive transcriptomic analysis revealed that the two strains exhibit divergent transcriptomic imprints on host tissues. While the precocious line predominantly modulates immune-centric pathways with significant differential gene enrichment, wild-type strains favor pathways that affect metabolism. In addition, our study pinpointed a set of genes that undergo significant modifications in response to these effects. These revelations grant a fresh avenue to probe deeper into the symbiotic intricacies of the Eimeria media and its rabbit hosts.