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A hair sample was sent to the laboratory for a fungal
culture, and a blood sample to test for antibodies against
myxomatosis or rabbit syphilis. Unfortunately it was confirmed
that Thumper had myxomatosis.
Myxomatosis is caused by the myxoma virus. It was first
found in wild rabbits in South America and California. In
these rabbits it only caused skin lumps. However the virus
causes severe and often fatal disease in the European wild
rabbits. The virus was taken from Brazil to France, and
released there in the summer of 1952 to control the population
of wild rabbits. In the autumn of 1953 it was illegally
released into the United Kingdom.
Occasionally our house rabbits become infected. Blood-feeding
insects, such as mosquitoes and fleas, bring the disease
over from wild rabbits. So even indoor rabbits can get the
disease.
In acute cases the rabbits are lethargic, depressed, develop
a fever and stop eating. Swelling of the nose, eyelids,
lips and ears occurs first, later lumps appear all over
the skin. These rabbits often die within a week because
of secondary infections, like snuffles. There is no effective
treatment, and supportive care is usually unsuccessful.
Because Thumper had been vaccinated we decided to give
her supportive care. She spent two weeks in hospital. She
was put on a drip, and every day her eyes and nose were
cleaned and antibiotics were given.
The swelling of the eyelids became worse at first, and
she could not see anything anymore. Luckily she kept eating
all the time. Gradually the swollen areas went down and
scabbed over. She went home, where Mrs. Barnes nursed her
through a long recovery period.
Controlling the disease is mainly by vaccination. However
no vaccination is a 100% effective. Rabbits are vaccinated
with a virus that resembles the myxoma virus, and this is
effective in 60 to 90% of the cases.
What exactly happened to Thumper is unclear. It could be
that she only developed a partial immunity with the vaccination,
that there were many infectious mosquitoes and fleas around
at the time, or that the virus was extremely virulent. I
do think that if she had not been vaccinated, she would
not have survived.
My advice to all rabbit owners is to have their rabbits
vaccinated against myxomatosis. Because the disease is strongly
seasonal-dependent, it is best to vaccinate in March, April
or May. Ideally this should be repeated in 6 months. Insect
control is very important as well. This can be done by screening
of the enclosures, hanging a vapona strip near the hutch,
and in applying a spot-on preparation licensed for rabbits
on the back of the neck once monthly.
By Ingrid Segboer MRCVS
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