2023-11-09 07:12:00
Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease: How to Protect Your Pets
By Manuela Bauer | November 9, 2023, 6:12 a.m
Of the infectious diseases that can affect rabbits, Chinese disease is one of the deadliest. If the long-eared ear is unvaccinated, it rarely survives the disease. PETBOOK explains how you can recognize the disease and what measures you absolutely have to take.
Rabbit hemorrhagic disease (RHD) is widespread worldwide and affects both wild and domestic rabbits. It was first described in China in 1984, but the virus had reached Europe before then, probably through the export of rabbit meat. However, the origin of the epidemic was Australia, where the virus was used experimentally to decimate wild rabbit populations on an offshore island when the introduced rabbits could no longer be controlled. Since 2010, in addition to the classic RDH virus, another variant has been known in France, which also came to Germany in 2014: RHDV2. It is more aggressive and also affects brown hares. Between 80 and 100 percent of unvaccinated rabbits fall victim to it – but vaccinated rabbits can also die from it.
How do I know if my rabbit has Chinese disease?
The tricky thing about this virus is that there are usually no symptoms until shortly before death. The previously fit and lively rabbit can suddenly be dead in the hutch, and within a few days there can be a massive loss in the entire group of rabbits.
As described, there are two variants of the virus: RHD1 and RHD2. Shortly before death, an infestation with RHD1 can cause bleeding from the body openings, fever or low temperature, refusal to eat, apathy, diarrhea, discolored mucous membranes, and neurological failures such as staggering and trembling. The affected animal usually dies within 36 hours after the onset of a high fever. In general, RHD2 is less sudden. Most of the time, the head is stretched back because the patient has struggled for air in vain.
Around 80 to 100 percent do not survive either variant. However, RDH1 sometimes has weaker forms in which the animal only becomes ill two weeks after infection, then eats less and appears apathetic, but survives.
What measures should be taken for rabbits that are still alive?
As soon as you find an animal dead and the cause has not yet been proven, you should immediately protect the remaining population. The virus infects other species. Humans and other mammals, however, are immune but can transmit it. It is therefore important to disinfect your hands and objects before and after contact with animals. Normal disinfectants are not sufficient; they must have a virucidal effect. Further measures include cleaning wooden objects or the shelter with peracetic acid, washing textiles with a virucidal detergent, pouring boiling water over pavement slabs in the enclosure, removing up to 30 cm of soil, heavily watering the meadow and mowing it more often, not using it for about 3 months, and moving live rabbits to another location immediately.
Can you vaccinate rabbits against Chinese disease?
Yes, it is recommended to vaccinate once or twice a year, especially in spring. Baby rabbits in epidemic areas should be given basic immunization, i.e. two vaccinations four weeks apart. Older rabbits should best be vaccinated twice against both virus variants if they are completely healthy and do not suffer from an acute parasitic infestation. Unfortunately, a vaccine does not always work 100%. Animals with weakened immune systems in particular are often unable to develop sufficient vaccination protection. Nevertheless, deaths in vaccinated rabbits are absolutely isolated cases.
What else can be used to prevent the Chinese epidemic?
The virus is transmitted not only through direct contact with sick animals but also through mosquitoes (rarely through other insects). But people or other mammals can theoretically also pass on the pathogens. The following protective measures are therefore recommended: attaching fly screens to the enclosure, not eating green food that you have picked yourself from epidemic areas, leaving shoes outside the living area if the animals live in the house, vaccinating new rabbits to the group, and regularly cleaning stables and objects with effective disinfectants.
In conclusion, the virus occurs more frequently in autumn and winter. If your rabbits have not yet been vaccinated, you should do so now.]
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