Rotavirus in rabbits is an acute intestinal infectious disease that usually causes severe diarrhea and dehydration in rabbits. If not treated in time, it may lead to death, which shows that rotavirus in rabbits is also a relatively intractable disease.

Overview of the pathogen of rotavirus in rabbits

This disease is an intestinal infectious disease of young rabbits caused by rotavirus, which is characterized by diarrhea in young rabbits. The virus is mainly present in the intestinal contents and feces of sick rabbits and remains infectious after 7 months at room temperature of 18°C ​​to 20°C. It is mainly transmitted through the digestive tract and occurs in rabbits 2-6 weeks of age with high morbidity and mortality. Adult rabbits are latently infected and carry the virus without clinical symptoms. The disease often occurs suddenly and spreads rapidly.

Clinical symptoms of rotavirus in rabbits

The incubation period for the disease is 2 to 4 days. In sudden outbreaks, sick rabbits are lethargic, reduce food or fast, and pass thin or watery feces. The feces of sick rabbits stick to the skin of the perineum or hind limbs, and the body temperature is normal. Most people die of dehydration and exhaustion around 4 days after diarrhea, with a mortality rate of up to 40%. Young and adult rabbits are mostly asymptomatic, and only a few show transient loss of appetite and loose stools.

Pathological changes of rotavirus in rabbits

The lesions are mainly in the intestinal tract, the small intestine is congested and dilated, the intestinal mucosa has bleeding spots of different sizes, the colon is congested, the cecum is dilated, and there are a lot of non-characteristic lesions such as fluid content, and other organs have no obvious lesions.

Anatomical examination revealed multifocal fusions, moderate shortening or blunting of jejunal and ileal villi, flattened enterocytes, and deep intestinal glands. Partial lamina propria and submucosal mucosa edema.

Prevention and control measures for rotavirus in rabbits

Strengthen sanitation and epidemic prevention and disinfection measures. When the disease occurs, it should be isolated immediately after discovery and fully disinfected. Bury or incinerate dead rabbits, feces and pollutants.

There is no effective vaccine for this disease and no good treatment. Feeding and management of young rabbits before and after weaning should be strengthened. Feeding young rabbits with colostrum or hyperimmune serum containing high titer of rotavirus antibodies has a certain preventive effect.

Establish a strict veterinary hygiene system and do a good job in daily disinfection. Pasteurization, 75% alcohol, 3.7% formaldehyde, 16.4% effective chlorine, etc. can kill viruses. Iodine tincture, cresol soap and 0.5% free chlorine have poor disinfection effect. Once sick, the sick rabbit should be isolated in time.