Rabbit GI diseases Flashcards
Diets low in indigestible fiber contribute to stasis how?
1) The VFAs produced by fiber fermentation directly stimulate cecal motility
2) stretch stimulates motility
3) “direct” stimulation of motility through RABBIT MAGIC
Lidocaine CRI dosing?
2 mg/kg loading, 100 ug/kg/min afterward
slowed borborygmi are characteristic of
GI stasis
hypermotile borborygmi are characteristic of
obstructions
Fluid distension of the stomach is more characteristic of
obstruction
Compressed/dried out GI contents, sometimes with a gas layer, is more characteristic of
GI stasis
Enterotoxemia is a result of what pathogen?
Clostridium spiriforme, mostly in young (3-6 wk old rabbits)
Symptoms of enterotoxemia?
Anorexic, markedly depressed, brown, watery TRUE diarrhea; sometimes with blood or mucus. Then hypothermic, moribund, die 24-48h later.
Gross necropsy findings of enterotoxemia?
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
Antibiotics that can cause enteritis include:
Clindamycin, lincomycin
Erythromycin
Ampi, amoxi, penicillins (PO)
Cephalosporins
E. coli in rabbits: symptoms
Diarrhea of varying severity, including hemorrhagic colitis
Rarely, intussusceptions and rectal prolapses
Outbreaks of mortality in commercial rabbitries
E. coli in rabbits: microscopic actions
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
Diagnosis of E. coli in rabbits?
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
Treatment of E. coli in rabbits?
TMS 30 mg/kg q12h
Baytril 15-30 mg/kg q12h (higher dose than I’m used to)
all hail the pink book
RHDV: Family and genus
Family: Caliciviridae
Genus: Lagovirus
RHDV vs RHDV2: which one affects just pets vs pets & wild?
RHDV: domestic rabbits
RHDV2: 2 types! (domestic & wild)
Where is RHDV shed?
Where isn’t it?
urine, feces, respiratory
direct contact, fomite contact, insect vectors
even feces of predators that CONSUME the rabbit
Which is more virulent, RHDV or RHDV2?
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
What organ systems do the RHDVs hit?
Liver - hepatic necrosis, DIC
Fever, lethargy, sudden death
Occas neuro & respiratory if the liver hasn’t killed them
Lymphopenia, gradual thrombocytopenia, >PT/PTT
Histopath findings for RHDV?
Hepatic necrosis - pale, periportal necrosis, "fine reticular pattern" Dark & thick spleen DIC Congestion & hemorrhage in the lungs Enteritis
Testing to confirm RHDV?
If any suspicion, contact state vet RIGHT AWAY to coordinate testing. has to be done by accredited labs.
Prevention of the RHDVs?
Several vaccines for RHDV alone
One vaccine for RHDV + DV2 as well
Is there a species that doesn’t get coronaviruses?
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.
Necropsy findings of Rabbit Enteric Coronavirus
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)
Rabbits should not go on cruise ships. Por que no?
Rabbit rotavirus
Infant rabbits, wild & domestic. varying M&M, coinfections possible. diarrhea, dehydration, death
Submucosal edema of small intestines Villus blunting & fusion Fluid cecal contents Lamina propria infiltrated with lymphocytes These necropsy findings make you think
Rotavirus
Fluid cecal contents can be found on necropsy of what diseases?
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?)
What species of rabbit coccidia goes to the liver?
Eimeria stediae
What species of rabbit coccidias live in the intestine?
like 12 of them, maybe more
when you have the pro version, make pictures of the E. stediae life cycle and put them in a flash card
the sporozoite goes to bile epithelial cells
poop out cysts
