Topic 39 - Rabbit haemorrhagic disease, European brown hare syndrome (RHD, EBHS) Flashcards
In which countries is rabbit haemorrhagic disease present?
Worldwide!
Is rabbit heamorrhagic disease notifiable or not?
It is notifiable
How many types of rabbit haemorrhagic disease is there?
We differentiate between 2 types and we vaccinate against both types
When was type 1 of rabbit haemorrhagic disease discovered?
1980s
When was type 2 of rabbit haemorrhaigc disease discovered?
2010
What is special about rabbit haemorrhagic disease in Australia and New Zealand?
Together with myxomatosis, they can be used a biological weapon for rabbit control, a pest management
What is the difference between rabbit haemorrhagic disease type 1, type 2 and the European brown hare syndrome virus?
The main differences between these 3 viruses is the species specificity and the age affected by the virus
MIDTERM QUESTION FOR SURE!!!
Specie affected by rabbit haemorrhagic disease type 1:
Rabbits only!
Age being affected by rabbit haemorrhagic disease type 1:
Older then 8 weeks of age
Specie affected by rabbit haemorrhagic disease type 2:
Rabbit and Hare
Age being affected by rabbit haemorrhagic disease type 2:
Younger rabbits too, under 8 weeks of age
species being affected by European Brown hare syndrome:
Hares, wild animals only
Mortality rate of rabbit haemorrhagic disease and european brown hare syndrome?
100%
Resistance in the environment for rabbit haemorrhagic disease and european brown hare syndrome
For all 3 viruses: For months in chilled/frozen meat and caracasses
Can rabbit haemorrhagic disease and european brown hare syndrome be propagated in cell culture?
No, none of them can
Transmission of rabbit haemorrhagic disease and european brown hare syndrome:
Direct and indirect transmission
Age of when clinical signs are observed in RHDV-1:
6-8 weeks of age
Age of when clinical signs are observed in RHDV-2:
even from 15-20 days of age
How is shedding done in case of rabbit haemorrhagic disease and european brown hare syndrome?
Via faeces and excretes, it is VERY contagious!!
if 1 animal is affected, every animal will be infected
Target organ of rabbit haemorrhagic disease and european brown hare syndrome?
Liver
Pathogenesis of rabbit haemorrhagic disease and european brown hare syndrome:
Infection, leading to viraemia, which will help the virus reach the liver and due to liver damage the animal will have haemorrhages and eventually die
route of transmission in case of rabbit haemorrhagic disease and european brown hare syndrome
Per os, air borne or conjunctival infections
Incubation time of rabbit haemorrhagic disease and european brown hare syndrome
1-4 days
Clinical signs in case of hyper acute form of rabbit haemorrhagic disease and european brown hare syndrome:
No specific clinical signs
Hyper acute form of rabbit haemorrhagic disease and european brown hare syndrome, time before death?
Few hours
Clinical signs in case of acute form of rabbit haemorrhagic disease and european brown hare syndrome:
depression and fever.
Very characteristic is the bloody nasal discharge
acute form of rabbit haemorrhagic disease and european brown hare syndrome, time before death:
within 12-36 hours
Typical pathological signs in case of rabbit haemorrhagic disease and european brown hare syndrome:
Haemorrhages everywhere!!
Pathological signs in lungs in case of rabbit haemorrhagic disease and european brown hare syndrome:
Oedema and emphysema
Pathological signs in kidneys in case of rabbit haemorrhagic disease and european brown hare syndrome:
Haemorrhages
Pathological signs in the liver in case of rabbit haemorrhagic disease and european brown hare syndrome:
Swollen, necrotic
How can we diagnose rabbit haemorrhagic disease and european brown hare syndrome
We have a pretty clear diagnosis only with:
1. clinical signs
2. high mortality
3. post mortem lesions
But we also do laboratory to detect the specific virus , histopathology and differential diagnosis
Histopathological lesions in case of rabbit haemorrhagic disease and european brown hare syndrome:
- Liver dystrophy
- Necrosis
Which laboratory work to detect the virus would we do in case of rabbit haemorrhagic disease and european brown hare syndrome?
RT-PCR is used, but we can also use ELISA
Differential diagnosis of rabbit haemorrhagic disease and european brown hare syndrome:
Everything that causes haemorrhages!!
heat stress, poisoning
Treatment of rabbit haemorrhagic disease and european brown hare syndrome:
There is no treatment, only prevention can be done
Vaccine types used in case of rabbit haemorrhagic disease and european brown hare syndrome:
Inactivated vaccine is used in combination with type 1, type 2 and myxomatosis
age of vaccination in case of rabbit haemorrhagic disease and european brown hare syndrome
first vaccination is done at 4-5 weeks of age
Yearly repetitions
Epidemiological measures done in case of rabbit haemorrhagic disease and european brown hare syndrome as a prevention:
Usually every animal is killed due to the high contagiousness. We do humane slaughter and disposal of the sick + infected animals
We can try movement restrictions
Why can we see healthy animals in the same farm as infected animals, in case of rabbit haemorrhagic disease and european brown hare syndrome:
The healthy animals may be immunised
