Animals
Male Wistar rats (as above) and female New Zealand White rabbits, which were either bred in the departmental animal unit or purchased from Harlan Interfauna (Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire), were used. Rabbits were housed under ambient conditions of a 12 hour light/ dark cycle at 18°C with food (R14 from SDS, Witham, Essex) and given amprolium HCI 7.68 % w/v and ethopabate 0.49% w/v (1.5 ml per 500 ml) drinking water for 5 days as a prophylaxis against coccidiosis infection. For rabbits, the optimal weight range for experimental use was 2-3 kg.