Introduction
- Adenovirus infection is rarely reported as a clinical problem in the rabbit.
- Cause : Adenovirus.
- Signs : profuse diarrhea, death.
- Diagnosis : on necropsy.
- Treatment : supportive treatment only.
- Prognosis : guarded.
Presenting signs
- Rabbits present with profuse diarrhea, and mortiality rates of 10-15% have been reported in a group situation.
Geographic incidence
- One outbreak has been reported in young farmed rabbits in Hungary.
- A serological survey of rabbits in Quebec, Canada also revealed serum-neutralizing antibodies to bovine adenovirus type 1 in rabbits in three different colonies.
Age difference
- The reported outbreak occurred in 6-8 week old rabbits, with older rabbits thought to have developed adequate serum antibody levels.
Cost considerations
- Group outbreaks may result in significant morbidity and mortality.
Sources
Publications
Refereed papers
- Recent references from PubMed.
- Bodon L & Prohaszka L (1981) Isolation of an adenovirus from rabbits with diarrhoea. Acta Veterinaria Academiae Scientiarum Hungaricae 28 (3), 247-255 PubMed.
- Descoteaux J P, Whissel K & Assaf R (1980) Detection of antibody titers to bovine viruses in rabbit sera. Lab Anim Sci 30 (3), 581-582 PubMed.
- Bodon L, Prohaszka L, Adam E & Nasz I (1979) Isolation of an adenovirus from rabbits. Acta Veterinaria Academiae Scientiarum Hungaricae 27 (1), 73-75.
- Reddick R A & Lefkowitz S S (1969) In vitro immune responses of rabbits with persistent adenovirus type 5 infection. J Immunol 103 (4), 687-694 PubMed.
Other sources of information
- MacLachlan N J & Dubovi E J (2011) Adenoviridae. In: Fenners Veterinary Virology. 4th ed. Academic Press, London. pp 203-212.
- Baker D G (2003) Pathogens of Rabbits. In: Natural Pathogens of Laboratory Animals: Their Effects on Research. ASM Press, Washington DC. pp 147-148.
- DiGiacomo R R & Mare C J (1994) Viral Diseases. In: The Biology of the Laboratory Rabbit. 2nd ed. Academic Press Inc, New York. pp 188.
