Rabbit Virus

The rabbit in this country may suffer from only four diseases due to viruses. Three are extremely rare, being a particular type of tumor, encephalomyelitis and a disease that has been termed Weybridge disease. The other is Myxomatosis. Myxomatosis was first described in 1898 in Montevideo as a highly fatal infectious disease. Attempts were made to introduce it into Australia to kill off the wild rabbit there, but these attempts were unsuccessful until recent years. In 1953 the disease was introduced into France where vast numbers of domestic rabbits were killed off, as well as wild rabbits. During October 1953 the disease appeared in England and then spread over the entire country killing off a very large proportion of the wild rabbit, although attacking very few domestic rabbits. The reason why so few outbreaks occurred amongst domestic stock is probably that the disease is spread very largely by the rabbit flea, which rarely comes into contact with the domestic rabbit. In some outbreaks in domestic rabbitries, the mosquito was proved to be the carrier.

After a rabbit has been infected by a biting insect carrying the virus, the eyelids swell considerably, eventually completely closing over the eye. Swellings may occur on other parts of the body, particularly at the base of the ears. Death follows in almost all cases within at most some twelve days of infection, although there are some rare cases of recovery.

In this country a vaccine was prepared and protected many animals, but its use has decreased with the decrease of the wild rabbit, and consequently the smaller source of infection. The elimination of all biting insects from the rabbitry gives excellent protection, and it is unlikely that much trouble from this disease will arise in the future.