Pocket pets, Rabbits, & Rodents

Question 1

what kind of virus causes Rabbit Viral Hemorrhagic Disease (RVHD)?

Answer 1

Rabbit calicivirus

Question 2

Does RVHD typically affect European rabbits or North American rabbits?

Answer 2

European rabbit

Question 3

is RVHD is a reportable disease?

Answer 3

Foreign animal disease = reportable

Question 4

what ages are most susceptible?

Answer 4

Older than 8 weeks

Question 5

what are the main necropsy lesions of RVHD?

Answer 5

• Massive liver necrosis
• Enlarged spleen
• Hemorrhages on lungs and surface of organs
• Lesions

Question 6

what is the pathogenesis of the disease RVHD?

Answer 6

Multiple thrombosis within vessels in the lungs caused by calicivirus

Question 7

what bacteria causes “snuffles” in rabbits?

Answer 7

Pasteurellosis

Question 8

PASTEURELLOSIS

is it caused by a gram-negative or gram-positive bacteria? Can you culture this bacteria?

Answer 8

• gram-negative
• yes

Question 9

PASTEURELLOSIS

does it also causes atrophic rhinitis?

Answer 9

yes

Question 10

what does torticollis mean?

Answer 10

Twisted neck “wry neck”

Question 11

TORTICOLLIS

what other clinical signs can be seen?

Answer 11

• Head tilt
• Middle or inner ear infection

Question 12

TORTICOLLIS

how significant would a nasal swab culture be in diagnosing this pathogen?

Answer 12

Insignificant

Question 13

what bacteria causes Tyzzer’s Disease? Is it a gram negative or gram-positive? Is it aerobic or anaerobic?

Answer 13

• Clostridium piliforme
• Gram-positive
• Anaerobic

Question 14

Tyzzer’s Disease

is it a disease of older animals or younger animals?

Answer 14

younger animals

Question 15

Tyzzer’s Disease

what three organs are typically involved?

Answer 15

1. heart
2. liver
3. colon

Question 16

Tyzzer’s disease

can you culture this bacteria?

Answer 16

yes

Question 17

Tyzzer’s disease

is it zoonotic/

Answer 17

no

Question 18

what kind of organism is Encephalitozoon cuniculi?

Answer 18

fungal

Question 19

Encephalitozoon cuniculi

what are the clinical signs are seen?

Answer 19

• Head tilt
• Neurologic disease
• Renal signs
• Ophthalmologic signs

Question 20

Encephalitozoon cuniculi

what microscopic lesions are seen?

Answer 20

Granulomatous inflammation in the brain and kidney

Question 21

Encephalitozoon cuniculi

is it zoonotic?

Answer 21

yes

Question 22

what is the ear mite in rabbits? Is it an insect?

Answer 22

• Psoroptes cuniculi
• Not insect

Question 23

Know two causes of torticollis in rabbits covered in these lectures.

Answer 23

1. Scratching and shaking of the head
2. Brown crusty discharge in the ear

Question 24

what is the fur mite in rabbits?

Answer 24

“Walking dandruff”
- Listophorus gibbus

Question 25

how do we treat mite infections in rabbits?

Answer 25

Rabbit-safe miticide (permethrin)

Question 26

why are rabbits anatomically predisposed to dental malocclusion?

Answer 26

They grow throughout life, may cause overgrowth

Question 27

how do we control dental malocclusion?

Answer 27

- Dental trimming - Chew blocks - Adequate available nutrition

Question 28

what is the most common tumor in rabbits? How can we prevent it?

Answer 28

Uterine adenocarcinoma prevention: spaying 4-9 months of age

Question 29

what is scurvy caused by?

Answer 29

vitamin C deficiency

Question 30

Vit. C deficiency what animal do we see it in?

Answer 30

- Humans - Guinea pigs - Birds and fish

Question 31

Vit. C deficiency what is the pathogenesis?

Answer 31

Defective collagen synthesis results in weak blood vessels/hemorrhage and defective bone production

Question 32

Vit. C deficiency how do we prevent it?

Answer 32

- Daily administration of vitamin C - Food should provide 10mg of vit C daily - Commercial feeds with vit C

Question 32

Vit. C deficiency how would you classify it in the DAMNIT-V scheme?

Answer 32

N- nutritional I- immune-mediated

Question 33

what bacterium is a common cause of pneumonia in rats?

Answer 33

Mycoplasma pulmonis

Question 34

what is the most common tumor in rats? Is it malignant or benign?

Answer 34

Fibro-adenoma; benign tumor

Question 35

what is the cause of mouse mammary tumors?

Answer 35

The virus can be transmitted via milk or passed down in the form of the proviral DNA