Exotic neurology Flashcards
What is meant by “floppy rabbit syndrome”?
Where rabbits fall over, appear unresponsive, slowly come round, occurs when rabbits are unwell, unhappy etc.
List the differentials for floppy rabbit syndrom
- Pain (spine, kidneys, skull)
- CNS: toxo, E. cuniculi, meningitis
- Stress
- Toxicity: lead, zinc (although would not keep recovering)
List the differentials for a head tilt in a rabbit
- E. cuniculi
- Toxoplasma
- Listeria
- Meningitis
- Otitis media
- Brain abscess
List the differentials for seizures in rabbits
- E. cuniculi
- Toxoplasma
- Lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus
- Skull trauma
- Heavy metal toxicity (lead, zinc)
Discuss the finding of middle ear infection in rabbits
- virutally every rabbit has middle ear infection
- Middle ear infection does not mean that this is the cause of a head tilt, need to rule out other causes
Describe the transmission of lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus of rodents
- Wild rodents can contaminate hay/straw that pet rodents are eating
- Zoonotic
- Transmitted by rodent urine
What is idiopathic epilepsy of gerbils?
Excitement triggered seizures
What is the ear parasite of rabbits?
Psoroptes cuniculi
Describe Psoroptes cuniculi infestations in rabbits
- Common in low numbers, when become immunosuppressed or stressed will proliferate and lead to diseae
- Can lead to head tilt, seizures
Describe the management of Psoroptes cuniculi
- Care, delicate ear lining
- Soften with mineral oil over a period of days to allow gentle removal
- Ectoparasiticides, although care with systemic dosing
- Need to look for signs of stress
List the differentials for urinary incontinence in rabbits
- Spinal trauma
- CNS lesions
- CNS infections
- E. cuniculi
- Toxoplasma
- Post spay
- Urolithiasis
- PUPD
Describe the clinical signs of urinary incontinence in rabbits
- urine scald
- Ventral dermatitis
- Litter training lost
Outline the diagnostic tests required for the investigation of urinary incontinence in the rabbit
- Neurological examination (can be difficult)
- Urinalysis
- Radiogaphy
- Blood work
Outline the general treatment of urinary incontinence in rabbits
- Treatment of underlying cause
- Supportive treatment
- Some neutered female rabbits are responsive to 0.5mg diethylstilbestrol once or twice a week
- Palliative care important
Outline the diagnostic methods required/useful in the investigation of floppy rabbit syndrome
- Radiography
- Renal biopsy
- Serology
- CSF analysis
What is E. cuniculi?
A protozoal parasite that infects the kidneys and is excreted in urine, also infects neural tissue including the spinal cord and brain
Describe the clinical signs of E. cuniculi infection of the rabbit
- Depends on degree of inflammation
- Head tilt
- Tremors
- Convulsions
- Ataxia
- Paresis
- Renal disease
- Emaciation
- Symptoms that wax and wane
- Unilateral signs can mean unilateral dental overgrowth
How is E. cuniculi diagnosed in the rabbit?
- PCR
- Urinalysis
- Serology
- Tests to establish whether E. cuniculi is clinically significant in the kidney
Outline the treatment of E. cuniculi in the rabbit
- No treatment for neuro signs
- Fenbendazole, albendazole listed in books, but Panacur will not cure neuro signs
- May reduce the clinical signs if these are due to rapid replication of the parasite
- Anti-inflammatories can help, but may encourage growht of Pasteurella and pneumonia
How can you prevent Pasteurella getting worse in a rabbit?
Steroids with NSAIDs and fluoroquinolones
Discuss the risk of E. cuniculi to humans
Unless immunosuppressed, unlikely to be affected. Must be severe immunosuppression e.g. HIV, organ transplant, chemotherapy
