If there are signs of infection, they include decreased to no appetite, fever, lethargy, and collapse.
Rabbits that recover can become carriers of the virus and may shed virus up to 4 weeks. Rabbits in close proximity to other rabbits (such as at breeders and rabbit shows) are at a greater risk.
The virus can also transmit over short distances in moist air. The disease is transmitted by direct contact with infected rabbits, rabbit products, rodents, and contaminated cages, dishes, and clothing. Viral hemorrhagic disease is caused by a calicivirus and, although the incubation period is up to three days, animals may die suddenly without any clinical signs. Occasionally vaccinated rabbits have a local reaction at the injection site, but compared with the lethal infection, this reaction is insignificant.Īlso called rabbit calicivirus (RCV), rabbit hemorrhagic disease (RHD), and viral hemorrhagic disease (VHD), this highly contagious disease was first recognized in China in 1984 but now has an almost worldwide distribution. Pregnant animals should not be vaccinated, nor should rabbits less than six weeks old. This vaccine is not available in some countries. Vaccination may provide temporary protection. "Myxomatosis virus is spread by bites from mosquitoes, flies, fur mites, and fleas." Treatment involves supportive care with fluids, syringe feeding, anti-inflammatory drugs, and pain relievers. Rabbits showing signs of myxomatosis should be seen by a veterinarian as soon as possible. Death is usually within 1-2 weeks after infection, but occasionally animals survive, and signs will slowly regress over about 3 months.
Swelling can rapidly progress to skin hemorrhages, trouble breathing, decreased to no appetite, fever, and development of generalized skin tumors. Subcutaneous (under the skin) swelling extends around the eyes, ears, and genital region. The incubation period is 1-3 days, and the first signs are development of puffy eyelids, a purulent (pus- producing) conjunctivitis, and lethargy. Clearly, outdoor rabbits are at greater risk of getting this disease. Pet rabbits are more susceptible and more severely affected than wild rabbits, as wild rabbits have developed a better genetic resistance. It is found in North America (primarily California), South America, Europe, and Australia. It is also acquired from injuries caused by contaminated thorns or thistles, or by direct contact with an infected rabbit. Even if your rabbit never comes into direct contact with animals from the wild, it can still become infected with this disease, because the virus is spread by bites from mosquitoes, flies, fur mites, and fleas. This illness is caused by the myxoma virus, which is widely distributed in the wild rabbit population. Two other infectious diseases of rabbits are encephalitozoonosis (a neurologic disease caused by the parasite Encephalitozoan cuniculi) and respiratory infection caused by the bacteria Pasteurella multocida. Because they are viral diseases, there are no effective treatments once the rabbit is infected. Two serious diseases caused by viruses rarely seen in indoor pets, are myxomatosis and viral hemorrhagic disease. are four major infectious diseases seen in pet rabbits. '//var node = document.getElementsByTagName('script') Gads.src = (useSSL ? 'https:' : 'http:') + Var gads = document.createElement('script') Can You Find the Easter Egg the Bunnies Hid in This Picture?