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Review
. 2013 May;16(2):437-68.
doi: 10.1016/j.cvex.2013.02.002. Epub 2013 Mar 17.

Viral infections of rabbits

Peter J Kerr  1 , Thomas M Donnelly
Affiliations
Review

Viral infections of rabbits

Peter J Kerr et al. Vet Clin North Am Exot Anim Pract. 2013 May.

Abstract

Viral diseases of rabbits have been used historically to study oncogenesis (e.g. rabbit fibroma virus, cottontail rabbit papillomavirus) and biologically to control feral rabbit populations (e.g. myxoma virus). However, clinicians seeing pet rabbits in North America infrequently encounter viral diseases although myxomatosis may be seen occasionally. The situation is different in Europe and Australia, where myxomatosis and rabbit hemorrhagic disease are endemic. Advances in epidemiology and virology have led to detection of other lapine viruses that are now recognized as agents of emerging infectious diseases. Rabbit caliciviruses, related to rabbit hemorrhagic disease, are generally avirulent, but lethal variants are being identified in Europe and North America. Enteric viruses including lapine rotavirus, rabbit enteric coronavirus and rabbit astrovirus are being acknowledged as contributors to the multifactorial enteritis complex of juvenile rabbits. Three avirulent leporid herpesviruses are found in domestic rabbits. A fourth highly pathogenic virus designated leporid herpesvirus 4 has been described in Canada and Alaska. This review considers viruses affecting rabbits by their clinical significance. Viruses of major and minor clinical significance are described, and viruses of laboratory significance are mentioned.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Rabbits with rabbit hemorrhagic disease. (A) Rabbit that died of RHD during a convulsion. Notice how food is still in the mouth (arrow). (B) Blood from nose and mouth (arrow) of a rabbit that died of acute RHD. (C) Icteric iris (arrow) in albino rabbit with chronic RHD. (D) Necropsy of a rabbit that died of RHD. Notice the pale liver (thick arrow) and hemorrhages in the lungs (thin arrows).
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Clinical appearance of rabbits with myxomatosis. (A) Acute myxomatosis caused by virulent myxoma virus. Skin lesions are present on the nose (solid arrowhead). The base of the ear is swollen (open arrowhead) and the eyes are closed with mucopurulent conjunctivitis. (B) Rabbit infected with attenuated strain of myxoma virus. The eyelid margins are red and swollen and serous discharge is present. Swelling is noted around the face and nose (arrowhead). (C) Scabbed skin lesion (approximately 2.5-cm diameter) at primary infection site. (D) Swollen testis (broad arrow); swollen genital opening (short arrow); secondary skin lesions (narrow arrow).
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
(A) Nodular fibromatous growth on forepaw of Eastern cottontail rabbit naturally infected with rabbit (Shope) fibroma virus. (B) Experimentally induced Shope fibroma on the dorsum of a pigmented rabbit 21 days post inoculation. The fibroma is freely movable in the subcutaneous tissue.
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
CRPV-induced papilloma on the ear of a New Zealand white rabbit. Notice how the papilloma shows multiple hornlike masses of firm, protruding keratin.
Fig. 5
Fig. 5
Rabbit oral papillomavirus tumor presenting as a white pedunculated nodule on the underside of a New Zealand white rabbit tongue (arrow).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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MeSH terms