Todayโs path rounds are on ๐ซ๐๐๐๐ข๐ญ ๐ก๐๐ฆ๐จ๐ซ๐ซ๐ก๐๐ ๐ข๐ ๐๐ข๐ฌ๐๐๐ฌ๐!
๐๐ก๐๐ญ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐ข๐ญ?
๐๐๐๐๐ข๐ญ ๐ก๐๐ฆ๐จ๐ซ๐ซ๐ก๐๐ ๐ข๐ ๐๐ข๐ฌ๐๐๐ฌ๐ is a viral infection of rabbits, as the name would suggest. This disease has been implicated in many massive mortality events in rabbits, with 90% of exposed rabbits dying from the disease.
๐๐ก๐จ ๐ ๐๐ญ๐ฌ ๐ข๐ญ?
This disease affects ๐๐จ๐ฆ๐๐ฌ๐ญ๐ข๐ rabbits, such as pet rabbits and those in rabbitries. Many wild rabbit species are considered to be resistant to the disease.
๐๐ก๐๐ญ ๐๐๐ฎ๐ฌ๐๐ฌ ๐ข๐ญ?
RHD is caused by a ๐๐๐ฅ๐ข๐๐ข๐ฏ๐ข๐ซ๐ฎ๐ฌ, which is a fairly uncommon virus family. The virus spreads by direct contact with infected rabbits, or exposure to viral particles in the air or on surfaces.
๐๐ก๐ฒ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐ญ๐ก๐ข๐ฌ ๐ ๐ฉ๐ซ๐จ๐๐ฅ๐๐ฆ?
The biggest problem caused by RHD is ๐๐ข๐ฌ๐ฌ๐๐ฆ๐ข๐ง๐๐ญ๐๐ ๐ข๐ง๐ญ๐ซ๐๐ฏ๐๐ฌ๐๐ฎ๐ฅ๐๐ซ ๐๐จ๐๐ ๐ฎ๐ฅ๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง. This is a very complex condition, where the bodyโs normal balance between forming clots and breaking down clots is disturbed. This results in the animals having profuse bleeding from some tissues, and ๐ข๐ง๐๐๐ซ๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง (blocked blood flow to a tissue) in other areas. The infarctions occur where blood clots have formed inappropriately, completely blocking a blood vessel. This ultimately results in ๐ง๐๐๐ซ๐จ๐ฌ๐ข๐ฌ (cell death) of the tissue that vessel normally supplies.
Clinically, these animals present with sudden death, and often have hemorrhage coming from their nose. Poor bunnies 
๐๐จ๐ฐ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐ข๐ญ ๐๐ข๐๐ ๐ง๐จ๐ฌ๐๐?
The disease can be diagnosed by identifying the virusโ DNA, or by showing that the rabbit has developed antibodies against the virus. However, the necropsy findings are fairly characteristic so the pathologist often has a good idea before proceeding with specific testing!
๐๐จ๐ฐ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐ข๐ญ ๐ญ๐ซ๐๐๐ญ๐๐? ๐๐จ๐ฐ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐ข๐ญ ๐ฉ๐ซ๐๐ฏ๐๐ง๐ญ๐๐?
Unfortunately, there is no treatment. One of the best methods of prevention is disinfecting anything coming into contact with rabbits, in areas where RHD has been found. There are a few vaccines available now, however depending on your location they may be difficult to get. With outbreaks happening in new areas frequently, rabbit owners must be very diligent to protect their fluffy friends!
๐๐ก๐จ๐ญ๐จ๐ฌ
1) A rabbit with the classic sign of RHD, blood from the nostrils.
2) A rabbit with ๐ข๐๐ญ๐๐ซ๐ฎ๐ฌ (yellowing of the tissue) due to liver necrosis from RHD.
3) A sad, shrunken, necrotic liver, combined with a dark, infarcted kidney from RHD.
4) A kidney with pinpoint hemorrhages all over its surface.
5) Some very hemorrhagic and sad lungs.
๐๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ๐๐๐ฌ
Terio, KA, McAloose, D, St. Leger, J. Pathology of Wildlife and Zoo Animals. 2018.
Photos 1, 3-5 ยฉ Noahโs Arkive contributors Gregg, King, Castillo-Alcala, Park licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Photos 1, 3-5 ยฉ Wikimedia Commons contributor Rabbit Vet licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
