Myxomatosis Spreading in Oregon

[Monkeybun]

Received this email today through the Rabbit Advocates, thought I should repost it for info for people here in the States. Look out for your bunnies!!

 

Myxomatosis Spreading in Oregon
The Brush Bunny population this year is exploding. In Oregon, these wild rabbits are the carrier of the virus that causes myxomatosis. There have already been cases of myxomatosis this spring, in rabbits housed outdoors. We expect this to be a particularly bad year for the transmission of this disease. We recommend that all rabbits be kept indoors with screened windows and doors to prevent access to mosquitoes. This disease has a 100% mortality rate.

Myxomatosis is a viral disease of rabbits that is spread by the bite of a mosquito or rarely a flea. This disease is endemic to the west coast of the U.S. meaning it is ALWAYS a threat to domestic rabbits and has been for many years. Most cases of myxomatosis occur during the months of July through September when the mosquito population is at its highest. The virus lives in the wild (not domestic) rabbit population where it does not cause serious disease. A mosquito bites a wild rabbit carrying the virus then bites a domestic rabbit spreading the disease. Myxomatosis is fatal to domestic rabbits. It can also be spread from a sick domestic rabbit to another domestic rabbit via a bite from a mosquito or from direct contact of body secretions. This also means that humans can spread it between rabbits on our hands and our clothes. It CANNOT be spread from rabbit to human even through a mosquito bite.

Signs of myxomatosis in the domestic rabbit appear 5-14 days after being bitten by a mosquito carrying the virus. Signs include swelling around the eyes, lips, ears and genitals, high fever, lethargy and poor appetite. There is no cure and treatment is rarely successful. Prevention is to keep rabbits within screened areas to prevent mosquito entry.

Information provided by Sheri Schlorman DVM, Creswell Veterinary Hospital

[Sarita]

Another good reason to NEVER let your rabbit outside!

[Barbie]

Yikes! I don’t live near the west coast, but still, I definitely won’t be letting the buns out on the balcony this summer like I had originally planned.

Thanks for that info, I had no idea.

[LizzieKnittyBun]

We live in Colorado. Do you think we’re safe? Our buns are never outside, but what if the mosquitoes get in?

Okay, deep breaths…

[Monkeybun]

Not sure Lizzie, but I do know I will be extra careful this year in making sure the doors are closed, and screens are all in good repair. Don’t want my buns getting sick Might even avoid taking them to the outreaches and meetings every month, just in case… lots of bunnies at each RA event every month.

[LizzieKnittyBun]

Bunny quarantine alert! Hopefully we can still feel safe about taking them to the vet if need be.

SCARYYYY

[Monkeybun]

I so see myself getting mosquito netting for my carriers lol. Wrapping them in the netting to take them outside to the car.

[LizzieKnittyBun]

lol, you and I can be the paranoid twins : D

[LoveChaCha]

I’m sure glad that ChaCha hates the great outdoors.. lol

[Lintini]

Thanks for letting us know Les. I had no idea about this.

Does anyone know if I burn citronella on the window ledge of an open screen – is this unsafe around rabbits? I don’t know what’s in it. *runs off to look it up*

In my bedroom – my house is on a hill, so the downstairs back half is nestled into the hill. So, my bedroom window is at ground level. I almost always have the window open, the screen is in good condition with no holes, but I am interested in burning citronella next to the screen just to make sure. You never know if they can make it into my house another way. Well it would make myself feel better I suppose. Well I will go see what the heck citronella is made of.

[Lintini]

Oh..it’s derived from grass and not regulated because it’s not a pesticide. It just smells bad. *sprays some all over my brother GO AWAY* lol

 

[Beka27]

Posted By Sarita on 05/28/2010 05:33 PM
Another good reason to NEVER let your rabbit outside!

That was my first thought too.  Summer is a dangerous time all around.  And it seems that, in my neck of the woods at least, it’s just been HOTTER this year.  Keep your buns inside if you can.  If you know people with outdoor buns, talk to them and try to encourage/help them make their bunnies indoor pets.

 

Monkey… baby stores carry small mosquito netting covers that are fitted to go over infant car seat carriers.  They have elastic bottoms that snug around the carseat.  Those would work very well to cover a pet carrier.  And they’re only a few dollars.  I hadn’t thought about transporting a bun, but in a pinch, that would work well!

How widespread would this have to get for the vaccine to be available here?

[Karla]

How come the vaccine is not available in the US at all?

When there is a myxomatosis epidemic here, only precaution is that it is illegal to have more than 30 rabbits together in public place (for shows, markets et.c), and of course the vaccine is recommended.

I just looked at some of the pictures of what happens. Surely, my bunnies will still have access to the garden no matter what, as I find that it is important that they get a happy natural life while they live – even if it should be shortened. But should the epidemic reoccur here, I might just have them vaccinated now I have seen the pictures. Yikes!

[Minty]

I didn’t know so many of you experienced bunny owners recommend keeping your buns indoors at all times… I have taken Sully and Frankie out once or twice since the weather is getting nicer, and was even going to make an outdoor bunny run. I live on 7 acres with untreated grass and lots of area for the bunnies to roam… It seems a shame to leave them inside. Of course I would have a fully enclosed bun run. Can anyone else weigh in on this that allow their buns time outside?

[Karla]

Rabbits cannot produce vitamin D without sunlight. So keeping your rabbit indoor just means it will lack this vitamin. The consequences of lacking vitamin D is dental problems and may also lead to rickets, unless you provide it with vitamin supplements, of course.

I may have another view on this than most, but as LizzieKnittyBun mentions, the mosquitos might just enter your house as well. Or you bring it inside with your shoes after having walked in an area where an infected rabbit has been. I would keep my eye out for the vaccine if I lived in that area and keep a close eye on the bunnies’ health. And of course, not have them outside during mornings or evenings when the mosquitos are active.
 

EDIT: Okay, so this is something worth looking into as it might be different from region to region. I was reading about the disease and the mosquitos. Here, it is recommended to do the vaccine only in august (the vaccine lasts 5 months), as this is the period when the risk is highest when an epidemic is on.

[Monkeybun]

I’m lucky in the fact that I get a ton of light in my apartment, so there is no lack of vitamin D for my buns. I’ll just have to be careful that I don’t let mosquitos in at all.

[SukiBun]

So sad you guys don’t have the vaccine

I think the other thing to point out…. yes it’s a good enough reason to keep bunnies indoors at ALL times, but lets not forget:

“It can also be spread from a sick domestic rabbit to another domestic rabbit via a bite from a mosquito or from direct contact of body secretions. This also means that humans can spread it between rabbits on our hands and our clothes.”

[Monkeybun]

Another good reason to make sure to wash hands and change clothes after being around new bunnies during the mosquito season.

[MimzMum]

We are getting similar warnings here in AK, except it’s for an overgrowth of cottontails and snowshoe hares and the disease tularemia. We had an outbreak here about 5 or more years ago when the bunny population exploded…then the predators followed suit and things normalized. But the protocol is to either bag or deeply bury any wild rabbit’s bodies you may find lying out, taking great care not to allow any parasite that may be on them to migrate to your skin. (I think I’d just call Animal Control if I came across something like that and save myself the worry.)

Still…brush is too dry outside to let my buns go into the yard anyway, but I do miss seeing them happily romping in their x pen out there. Ah well…not worth the risk, certainly!

[LittlePuffyTail]

Hope every bun stays healthy and happy this mosquito season! What a pain in the butt mosquito’s are. They can kill bunnies now on top of horses and humans via West nile. I’d like to put some frogs in my yard to eat them all!

[LizzieKnittyBun]

haha! And suddenly, there is an influx of frog purchases in the Oregon area……

[Deleted User]

Posted By SullysMum on 05/29/2010 08:16 AM
  Of course I would have a fully enclosed bun run. Can anyone else weigh in on this that allow their buns time outside?

 

Contact your local wildlife center to see if your particular region is subject to myxomatosis. If it is, keep your bunnies in screened areas when outside.
 

[Deleted User]

Posted By Sarita on 05/28/2010 05:33 PM
Another good reason to NEVER let your rabbit outside!

 

In areas affected by myxomatosis, even indoor rabbits are at risk and should be vaccinated. The virus can be brought in the house by a single mosquito.

Sullys, you may also want to ask your vet if it is a concern in BC. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has not reported any outbreaks of this virus and I suppose it is meat rabbits who would be at a higher risk than pet bunnies to contract this. Keep your rabbits inside when mosquitoes are active because they irritate a rabbit greatly; mosquito bites can cause hair loss, even dermatitis. Rabbit ears are especially sensitve to this.

 

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