Rabbit GI diseases

Question 1

Diets low in indigestible fiber contribute to stasis how?

Answer 1

1) The VFAs produced by fiber fermentation directly stimulate cecal motility
2) stretch stimulates motility
3) “direct” stimulation of motility through RABBIT MAGIC

Question 2

Lidocaine CRI dosing?

Answer 2

2 mg/kg loading, 100 ug/kg/min afterward

Question 3

slowed borborygmi are characteristic of

Answer 3

GI stasis

Question 4

hypermotile borborygmi are characteristic of

Answer 4

obstructions

Question 5

Fluid distension of the stomach is more characteristic of

Answer 5

obstruction

Question 6

Compressed/dried out GI contents, sometimes with a gas layer, is more characteristic of

Answer 6

GI stasis

Question 7

Enterotoxemia is a result of what pathogen?

Answer 7

Clostridium spiriforme, mostly in young (3-6 wk old rabbits)

Question 8

Symptoms of enterotoxemia?

Answer 8

Anorexic, markedly depressed, brown, watery TRUE diarrhea; sometimes with blood or mucus. Then hypothermic, moribund, die 24-48h later.

Question 9

Gross necropsy findings of enterotoxemia?

Answer 9

Petechial and ecchymotic hemorrhage on the serosal surface of the cecum; occasionally appendix and prox colon.
Gas throughout intestines from ileus
hemorrhage, pseudomembranes, or mucus in the cecum & colon

Question 10

Antibiotics that can cause enteritis include:

Answer 10

Clindamycin, lincomycin
Erythromycin
Ampi, amoxi, penicillins (PO)
Cephalosporins

Question 11

E. coli in rabbits: symptoms

Answer 11

Diarrhea of varying severity, including hemorrhagic colitis
Rarely, intussusceptions and rectal prolapses
Outbreaks of mortality in commercial rabbitries

Question 12

E. coli in rabbits: microscopic actions

Answer 12

shiga-toxin producing strain
attaches and effaces enterocytes in the cecum and colon specifically
fimbrial adhesions
thrombocytic microangiopathy
rarely, acute renal failure from the clots

Question 13

Diagnosis of E. coli in rabbits?

Answer 13

ID of bacteria in feces is not reliable (will overgrow with any ileus)
Longitudinal “paintbrush” hemorrhages in the cecal wall
Histology of the intestines is the main way

Question 14

Treatment of E. coli in rabbits?

Answer 14

TMS 30 mg/kg q12h
Baytril 15-30 mg/kg q12h (higher dose than I’m used to)
all hail the pink book

Question 15

RHDV: Family and genus

Answer 15

Family: Caliciviridae
Genus: Lagovirus

Question 16

RHDV vs RHDV2: which one affects just pets vs pets & wild?

Answer 16

RHDV: domestic rabbits
RHDV2: 2 types! (domestic & wild)

Question 17

Where is RHDV shed?

Answer 17

Where isn’t it?
urine, feces, respiratory
direct contact, fomite contact, insect vectors
even feces of predators that CONSUME the rabbit

Question 18

Which is more virulent, RHDV or RHDV2?

Answer 18

Rhdv2 is more virulent. And goes to more species. Rhdv1 has an age dependent immunity (baby rabbits can have maternal antibodies and then they can maintain that as they grow; some chronic forms of the disease in infected rabbits, too. Rhdv2 is bad news bears

Question 19

What organ systems do the RHDVs hit?

Answer 19

Liver - hepatic necrosis, DIC
Fever, lethargy, sudden death
Occas neuro & respiratory if the liver hasn’t killed them
Lymphopenia, gradual thrombocytopenia, >PT/PTT

Question 20

Histopath findings for RHDV?

Answer 20

Hepatic necrosis - pale, periportal necrosis, "fine reticular pattern"
Dark & thick spleen
DIC
Congestion & hemorrhage in the lungs
Enteritis

Question 21

Testing to confirm RHDV?

Answer 21

If any suspicion, contact state vet RIGHT AWAY to coordinate testing. has to be done by accredited labs.

Question 22

Prevention of the RHDVs?

Answer 22

Several vaccines for RHDV alone

One vaccine for RHDV + DV2 as well

Question 23

Is there a species that doesn’t get coronaviruses?

Answer 23

Prob not. Rabbts: affects young ones (3-10wks old).
Lethargy, diarrhea, abd distension, pleural efffusion, cardiomyopathy, death. Great. Super great.
40-60% morbidity, almost 100% mortality. super great.

Question 24

Necropsy findings of Rabbit Enteric Coronavirus

Answer 24

slight mislead as it’s not just enteric but
cecum FILLED with fluid
Atrophy of intestinal villi
Hemagglutination in feces
(Also the pleural effusion, cardiomyopathy)

Question 25

Rabbits should not go on cruise ships. Por que no?

Answer 25

Rabbit rotavirus

Infant rabbits, wild & domestic. varying M&M, coinfections possible. diarrhea, dehydration, death

Question 26

Submucosal edema of small intestines
Villus blunting & fusion
Fluid cecal contents
Lamina propria infiltrated with lymphocytes
These necropsy findings make you think

Answer 26

Rotavirus

Question 27

Fluid cecal contents can be found on necropsy of what diseases?

Answer 27

Rotavirus (infant rabbits)
Rabbit enteric coronavirus (3-10 wk old rabbits)
Others? (probably E coli though that’s more “attaching and effacing” in the cecum - but still leads to watery diarrhea.) (Salmonella?)

Question 28

What species of rabbit coccidia goes to the liver?

Answer 28

Eimeria stediae

Question 29

What species of rabbit coccidias live in the intestine?

Answer 29

like 12 of them, maybe more

Question 30

when you have the pro version, make pictures of the E. stediae life cycle and put them in a flash card

Answer 30

the sporozoite goes to bile epithelial cells

poop out cysts