Resumen de Albino rabbits can suffer from megacolon-syndrome when they are homozygous for the “English Spot” gene (EnEn)
Segregation patterns, reproduction rate, mortality, fattening performance and gut parameters of albino (cc) rabbits heterozygous (Enen) or homozygous (EnEn) for the English Spot gene have been investigated to test the hypothesis whether albinos can suffer from MegacolonSyndrome, which is a characteristic predisposition of EnEn spotted animals. Whereas the weight of the gut (brutto) of cc Enen - animals reached 8.5 ± O. 7 % of live weight at slaughter and 17 .2 ± 1.6 % of the carcass weight, cc-En En animals exhibited a relative gut weight of 16.5 ± 6.5 % and 37.0 ± 17.4 % respectively. In addition to these findings one cc-EnEn breeder buck suffered chronically from MegacolonSyndrome. Thus there is evidence that the En - gene segregating in cc - genotypes may induce enteric problems in albinotic stocks.
