Since rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus type II (RHDV2) made its first incursion into Canada, and again more recently with the first detection of this virus in Ontario, there’s been a lot of interest in vaccination of rabbits (rabbits and hares are the only species known to be affected). Effective vaccines are available for this
rabbits
Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease in Ontario, Canada
Addendum: OMAFRA has now issued their notification, along with advisories for vets and rabbit owners.
Rabbit hemorrhagic disease has been identified in a group of pet rabbits in Lambton County, Ontario. This is a bit of a “surprising, but not surprising” scenario, as this highly contagious virus of rabbits is already present…
The Easter Bunny and COVID-19 Risks
Dogs and tularemia
Tularemia is a nasty bacterial disease. The bug that causes it, Francisella tularensis, is a category A bioterrorism agent (along with things like anthrax, botulism, plague, smallpox and Ebola virus). It’s classified as that because it’s highly transmissible and causes serious disease, so it’s something you definitely don’t want.
The bacterium circulates in the…
Killer rabbits and other strange rabid animals
Rabies is most commonly reported in dogs, skunks, raccoons, bats and a few other species. However, any mammal is susceptible, and sometimes unusual cases are identified.
1. In a serious take on Monty Python’s "killer rabbit," a rabid bunny has caused a lot of problems in Chom Thong, Thailand.
The pet rabbit, Poko, had been…
Rare rabbit infection in Manitoba
Rabbit hemorrhagic disease (RHD), a rare and reportable disease, has been identified in a pet rabbit from Winnipeg, Manitoba. The affected adult male rabbit was taken to a veterinary clinic in March after being lethargic for a short period of time. It was diagnosed with liver failure and subsequently died. The rabbit’s body was…
Dumb Easter decisions
Easter is one of those holidays when there are concerns about dumb pet purchases. Spur-of-the-moment purchases of inappropriate pets can lead to animal suffering and death, and risk of human infection. Easter’s problems: baby chicks and rabbits.
Rabbits can make great pets. They’re a long-term commitment, but they’re relatively low maintenance, a lot is…
Tularemia alert in Texas
When it comes to handling microorganisms, there are 4 biosafety levels.
- Biosafety level 1 (BSL-1) organisms are harmless.
- BSL-2 organisms include most of the commonly encountered bugs, including things like E. coli, Salmonella and Staphylococcus aureus. They can cause serious disease but infections are often treatable and they can be handled safely with
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E. cuniculi from rabbit to dog?
How likely is E. cuniculi to be trasmitted from an infected rabbit to a dog? My sister has a positive rabbit and my dog was just diagnosed with kidney insufficiency. Now that the dog’s kidneys are compromised, should we be concerned?
Encephalitozoon cuniculi is a strange little organism that is now classified as a fungus…
Eliminating E. cuniculi in the household
A recent question:
"I have two rabbits who just tested positive for E. cuniiculi… Can you please tell me how to disinfect my floors and kill the parasites? I don’t think bleach is doing it."
Encephalitozoon cuniculi is a strange little bug. It a member of a unique group of organisms called microsporidia. Originally thought…