Rabbits infectious diseases

Question 1

What type of virus is Myxomatosis?

Answer 1

• Leporipoxvirus

Question 2

What spread myxomatosis?

Answer 2

• Fleas
• Mosquitoes
• Cheyletiella mites

Question 3

What does clinical disease of myxomatosis depend on?

Answer 3

• Viral strain
• Season (vectors life cycle)
• Environmental temperature (cold)
• Age (maternal ABs 4-5 weeks)
• Immune function
• Vaccination status

Question 4

What are clinical signs of myxomatosis?

Answer 4

• Eyelid thickening + purulent eye discharge;
• Nodules on ears, lips, nares, eyelids, external
  genitalia;
• Occ. Pneumonic signs;
• Infertility
• Death by starvation + 2ary infections

Question 5

What is shope fibroma? What is its relevance to Myxomatosis?

Answer 5

• Different Leporipoxvirus
• Naturally infects American rabbit species
• Induces self-limiting fibromas/fibromatosis
• Cross-immunity against Myxomatosis

*Attenuated live Shope fibroma virus used in Myxo vaccines

Question 6

How can you Prevent + Treat Myxomatosis?

Answer 6

• Tx = none effective, euthanasia advised, strict isolation
• Px = Vaccination - from 5 weeks of age + annual boosters
• External parasite control
• avoid contact with wild rabbits

Question 7

What is viral haemorrhagic disease?

Answer 7

• Calicivirus
• Highly infectious + high mortality rates
• 2 Strains = VHD-1, VHD-2
• Only infects european wild rabbits + pet rabbits

Question 8

How does VHD spread?

Answer 8

• Urine
• Faeces
• Aerosol
• Biting insects

Question 9

How does VHD progress?

Answer 9

1. Initial replication of calicivirus inside hepatocytes
   = acute liver failure
2. DIC
3. Fibrinous thrombi in lungs, heart + kidneys
   = haemorrhage + organ failure
4. Death (within 3-4 days)

Question 10

What are clinical signs of VHD?

Answer 10

• Sudden death
• Fever
• Increased RR
• Collapse, hypotension
• Neurological signs
• Haemorrhages (20-25% cases)
• In rabbits >4 weeks old
• Younger rabbits resistant to infection

Question 11

How is VHD diagnosed?

Answer 11

• Clinical signs
• Gross pathology =
• Severe necrotizing hepatitis
• Enlarged spleen
• Haemorrhages (sp. Lungs)
• Histology
• PCR

Question 12

How can you prevent + treat VHD?

Answer 12

• Tx = none - euthanasia of suspected cases (young rabbits <4wks can survive infection)
• Px = Vaccinate - from 5 wks + annual boosters

Question 13

What are 3 different conditions of Papillomatosis?

Answer 13

1. Shope papillomavirus – can cause SCC-like neoplasia in domestic rabbits. Endemic to USA.
2. Oral papillomavirus – benign wart-like growths in the oral mucosa. Doesn’t progress to malignant changes and is self-limiting.
3. Ano-rectal papillomatosis – NOT viral-induced. Cauli-flower masses that bleed easily

Question 14

What is pasteurellosis?

Answer 14

• “snuffles”
• Pasteurella multocida
• Primary pathogens in immunosuppressed rabbits
• Secondary pathogen in abscesses

Question 15

What can predispose rabbits to pasteurellosis?

Answer 15

• Stress / immunosuppression =
• Overcrowding
• Pregnancy / lactation
• Poor husbandry
• Nutritional deficiencies
• Poor ventilation

Question 16

What are clinical signs of Pasteurellosis?

Answer 16

1. Rhinitis (“snuffles”)
2. Pneumonia
3. Genital infections
4. Wounds and abscesses
5. Dacryocystitis - infection of lacrimal sac
6. Otitis media/interna

Question 17

How is pasteurellosis diagnosed?

Answer 17

• Deep nasal swab under GA
• Serology
• PCR

Question 18

How is pasteurellosis managed?

Answer 18

• Reduce stress and overcrowding
• Improve husbandry
• Increase ventilation
• Avoid temperature fluctuations
• Isolate symptomatic rabbits
• Antibiotics based on C&S + supportive care + treat specific problems

Question 19

What is the treponema infection in rabbits? How does it spread? What are CS, Dx, Ddx + Tx?

Answer 19

• Treponema paraluiscuniculi
• Genital infection - rabbit syphilis
• sexual + vertical transmission
• CS = nodules, crusty lesions that can ulcerate - vulva/prepuce + lips/nostrils
• Dx = Histo + special silver stain
• Ddx = myxomatosis, ano-rectal papillomatosis
• Tx = Penicillin SC weekly

Question 20

What are different agents that can cause bacterial enteritis?

Answer 20

◦ Tyzzer’s disease (Clostridium piliforme)
◦ Clostridial entorotoxaemia
◦ Salmonella sp.
◦ E. coli
◦ Campylobacter spp

Question 21

What is Tyzzer’s disease?

Answer 21

• Clostridium piliforme
• Affect young rabbits 6-12wks
• 2ary to stress
• CS =
  ◦ Acute phase: diarrhea, sudden death
  ◦ Chronic: intestinal fibrosis/stenosis, liver necrosis
• Dx = serology? PCR

Question 22

What is clostridial enterotoxaemia? What causes it?

Answer 22

• Clostridium spiriforme, C. difficile, C. perfringens
• Iota toxin
• Main causes =
  ◦ Diets rich in starch – Caecum overload
  ◦ Stress
  ◦ Antibiotics – specially if administered PO

Question 23

What should be checked with rabbits with diarrhoea?

Answer 23

◦ Weight
◦ Dehydration %
◦ Temperature
◦ Gut sounds
◦ Blood glucose
◦ Routine faecal testing (check for coccidia)

Question 24

What should be done to treat diarrhoea?

Answer 24

• Fluid therapy
• Diet management - high fiber, low starch
• Antibiotics - fluoroquinolone / metronidazole
• Other meds - analgesic, maropitant

Question 25

What causes intestinal coccidiosis in rabbits? What are risk factors + CS?

Answer 25

* Eimeria spp (13 species) * Risk factors = Groups / age (young) * Cs = Diarrhoea (sometimes w blood) + weight loss

Question 26

What causes hepatic (biliary) coccidiosis? What are clinical signs?

Answer 26

* Eimeria stiedae * Diarrhoea + weight loss * Hepatomegaly * Jaundice * Higher monrtality than intestinal

Question 27

What is treatment of Cocci? Do rabbits become immune?

Answer 27

◦ TMP + Sulfas ◦ Toltrazuril Also consider: ◦ Supportive care ◦ Diet management ◦ Reduce stress/improve husbandry Intestinal – rabbits that recover become immune Hepatic – chronic/permanent changes

Question 28

What are internal parasites of rabbits?

Answer 28

* Pinworm = Passalurus ambiguus * Tapeworms = - Cysticercus pisiformis - peritoneal cavity / liver - Coenurus serialis - SC tissues - Echinococcus granulosus

Question 29

What are external parasites of rabbits? Tx?

Answer 29

* Fleas - cat + dog fleas * Lice - Haemodipsus ventricosus * Mites = - Ear mites - Psoroptes cuniculis - Skin mites - Cheyletiella parasitovorax - Fur mites - Leporacarus gibbus * Tx = imidacloprid, Selamectin, Moxidectin DO NOT use Fipronil

Question 30

What causes flystrike? Where are rabbits most affected? How long does it take for maggots to form?

Answer 30

* Maggots of Lucilia spp + Calliphora spp * Mostly affect tail base + perineum * 3-4days

Question 31

What are risk factors for flystrike?

Answer 31

◦ Outdoor rabbits ◦ Higher temperatures ◦ Soiled skin with u+/f+ - rabbits with diarrhea, pu-pd ◦ Overweight ◦ Difficulty grooming – arthritis, spinal disease ◦ Uneaten caecotrophs

Question 32

How would you manage flystrike?

Answer 32

* Euthanasia in severe cases * Remove maggots - sedate + clip, ivermectin SC, dry with blow dryer * Analgesia - Meloxican +/- buprenorphine * Supportive care = fluids, gut motility stimulants + antibiotics

Question 33

How can you prevent flystrike?

Answer 33

* Cyromazine * Good husbandry + hygiene * Clip mats

Question 34

What is Encephalitozoonosis? When do you get CS? What is the transmission?

Answer 34

* Encephalitozoon cuniculi * Microsporidia * Intracellular obligate parasite – most cells * Clinical signs develop when infected cells rupture with spores. * Transmission = ◦ Inhalation/ingestion of spores shed mostly in urine ◦ Vertical

Question 35

What are clinical signs of encephalitozoonosis?

Answer 35

* Most cases = sub-clinical / non-symptomatic * Neurological presentations * Eye lesions * CKD

Question 36

What are Neurological presentations of encephalitozoonosis?

Answer 36

* Head tilt * Nystagmus * Facial paralysis * Paresis/paralysis * Muscle weakness * Seizures

Question 37

What are eye lesions of encephalitozoonosis?

Answer 37

* Phacoclastic uveitis * Lens opacity/rupture * Cataracts

Question 38

What is seen with Chronic kidney disease from encephalitonzoonosis?

Answer 38

* Pu-pd * Urine scald * Progressive weigh loss

Question 39

How is E. cuniculi diagnosed?

Answer 39

* Serology ◦ IgM – indicate recent/active infection ◦ IgG – indicate chronic infection or previous exposure ◦ Always interpret results with clinical signs and other tests * PCR – urine or faeces. But shedding of spores is intermittent * On suspected cases try to include: ◦ Radiographs ◦ Biochemistry + Haematology

Question 40

What is Tx of E. cuniculi?

Answer 40

1. Fembendazole 20mg/kg PO 28 days ◦ Side effects: bone marrow suppression ◦ Only treat confirmed cases or with high suspicion 2. Anti-inflammatories ◦ NSAIDs – e.g. Meloxicam safer ◦ Corticoids – contra-indicated due to severe immunosuppressive side effects. 3. Antibiotics – Fluoroquinolones or Doxycycline 4. Support medication ◦ Prochlorperazine ◦ Maropitant * midazolam for seizures * Eyedrops for ocular lesions / surgery

Question 41

What are 5 possible outcomes of encephalitozoonosis infection?

Answer 41

1. Recovery – very likely to remain sub clinically infected 2. Neuro deficits – mild head tilt doesn’t affect patient’s QOL 3. Enucleation – rabbits cope very well post-operatively 4. CKD – management and monitoring 5. Euthanasia

Question 42

How can E. cuniculi be prevented?

Answer 42

* Serological testing and separating positives/negatives * Strict hygiene * Prophylactic use of Fenbendazole * Improve husbandry and diet * Reduce overcrowding