Serious viral diseases: significant threats
Myxomatosis and rabbit hemorrhagic disease (RHD) are two viral diseases of major clinical significance in rabbits1. These serious and widespread diseases put all rabbits at risk of high morbidity and mortality. More recently with the emergence a new variant form of RHD, the threat to your patients needs a more comprehensive answer.
Myxomatosis
Myxomatosis is a serious and widespread viral disease of both wild and domestic rabbits that is typically fatal once contracted. It is one of the top 8 causes of death in UK pet rabbits.
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About Myxomatosis
- Mortality of up to 100%1
- Caused by the myxoma virus (a poxvirus)
- Mainly transmitted by biting insects (e.g mosquitos and fleas) but can also be spread between rabbits via infected ocular and nasal secretions1
- Typically causes severe, tumour-like swellings (myxomas) around the eyes, nose and mouth, ears and abdominal region2
- The virus also causes immunosuppression and secondary bacterial infections that cause severe respiratory disease1
In its classic form it is a highly distressing disease which cannot be successfully treated, however vaccination is very effective at reducing the risk of disease.
Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease
A highly infectious and widespread disease caused by a calicivirus and often resulting in swift and sudden death3.
Until recently, this disease was caused by ‘classic’ strains of RHD virus (RHDV-1) and effective vaccines were available. In 2010, a new pathogenic variant RHD virus was reported to be causing severe disease in Europe, against which the classic strain vaccines were much less effective. This variant strain (RHDV-2) has since spread throughout Europe and is causing disease in both wild and pet rabbits3-5.
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About RHDV-1
- Present in Europe since 19866
- Caused by classic (RHDV-1) strains of the virus
- 1- to 3-day incubation period3
- Can cause very high mortality (80–90%)3
- The virus causes an acute necrotising hepatitis and a widespread coagulopathy resulting in haemorrhages in many organs7
- In many cases the disease can be peracute with sudden death as the only sign7
- Very young rabbits (<6–8 weeks of age) are naturally resistant ot the disease
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About RHDV-2
- Present in Europe since 20105
- Caused by a variant (antigenically distinct) virus strain now referred to as RHDV2
- Surviving and subclinically affected rabbits can potentially shed the virus for 2 months4
- May present a longer course of disease than RHDV-1 in many cases, with more subacute and chronic cases4
- Unlike RHDV-1, very young rabbits (<6 weeks of age) are also susceptible to disease3
For comprehensive protection a vaccine needs to demonstrate efficacy against both forms of RHD.
Nobivac® Myxo-RHD PLUS contains live myxoma vectored RHD virus strain 009 and MK 1898. POM-V
MSD Animal Health UK Limited. Registered office Walton Manor, Walton, Milton Keynes MK7 7AJ, UK. Registered in England & Wales no. 946942.
Further information is available from the SPC, Datasheet or package leaflet. Advice should be sought from the medicine prescriber.
Use medicines responsibly
References
1. https://veterinaryrecord.bmj.com/content/vetrec/180/17/426.2.full.pdf
2. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/tbed.13189
3. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/tbed.12830
4. SAVSNET – https://bmcvetres.biomedcentral.com/track/pdf/10.1186/s12917-017-1138-9
5. 2019 PDSA Report
6. Spibey N, McCabe VJ, Greenwood NM, Jack SC, Sutton D, van der Waart L. Novel bivalent vectored vaccine for control of myxomatosis and rabbit haemorrhagic disease. Vet Rec. 2012; 170:309
7. Data on file, Study Report 18R/0118, MSD Animal Health
