Highly contagious fever puts rabbit owners on watch
Two cases of rabbit hemorrhagic fever have been detected in East Tennessee.
The disease was detected in two domesticated rabbits in the same Blount County household, according to a spokesperson for Tennessee’s state veterinarian. Both rabbits died.
The state is researching the source of the virus, according to a news release.
The disease is caused by a virus known as “rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus type 2,” or RHDV2. It’s highly contagious and frequently fatal for any type of rabbit, hare or pika.
“This detection is an isolated incident with no known exposure to any other rabbits, domestic or wild,” state veterinarian Samantha Beaty said in a news release. “RHDV2 is not transmissible to humans, but it is highly infectious and fatal to domestic rabbits. We want to remind rabbit owners that practicing good biosecurity is the best defense.”
While no wild cases have been detected yet in the Eastern U.S., cases have popped up periodically in domestic settings. The disease is widespread in Europe and Australia. It was first detected in 2010 in France.
Rabbit owners should exercise caution to avoid introducing the virus to the wild.
Infected rabbits may have bleeding from the nose and mouth, seizures and high fevers. Some infected rabbits may be lethargic, severely underweight and have jaundiced eyes.
Once symptoms set in, the animal could die within two weeks. In severe cases, rabbits have died within 12 hours of fever.
The virus destroys the liver, rapidly causing necrosis and liver failure, said Dr. Cheryl Greenacre, a veterinarian and professor of small animal clinical sciences at the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture.
The infected livers stop filtering damaged cells from blood and cellular debris breaks and clogs blood vessels. The dying liver
“People cannot get it. Dogs and cats cannot get it. But we sure can spread it around.”
— DR. CHERYL GREENACRE, PROFESSOR OF SMALL ANIMAL CLINICAL SCIENCES AT THE UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE INSTITUTE OF AGRICULTURE
can no longer produce blood-clotting proteins, causing widespread internal bleeding.
RHDV2 spreads from the bodily fluids of infected rabbits and is capable of remaining infectious for up to three months in rabbit carcasses or on surfaces that have come in contact with infected fluids. The virus resists extreme temperatures and can survive freezing.
“This stuff is scary contagious. It can be on your clothes and shoes for months,” Greenacre said. “People cannot get it. Dogs and cats cannot get it. But we sure can spread it around.”
Greenacre said the virus can spread from roadkill on tractor-trailer tires or from a dog bringing a dead rabbit into a home with pet rabbits.
The virus is resistant to chemicals and can’t be killed with soap. On hard surfaces, it can be neutralized with a 1/10 dilution of bleach or an accelerated hydrogen peroxide solution.
Call your veterinarian and the state veterinarian if you encounter a case in the wild or if your domestic rabbit dies suddenly. The state veterinarian can be reached at 615-837-5120.
The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency and Tennessee Department of Agriculture both recommend to avoid touching wild rabbits or rabbit carcasses. Call Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency if you encounter a dead rabbit or hare in the wild.
Specific instructions for hunters, falconers and rabbit farmers can be found on the TWRA website.
Newly acquired rabbits should be quarantined for at least 30 days from other animals, the state said. Your veterinarian can order a vaccine for your rabbits.
First detected in North America on a Canadian rabbit farm, the virus has been devastating to rabbit populations in the Western U.S., where it has become endemic.
“It’s really sad what’s happening out West,” Greenacre said.
She described a ripple effect of starvation as predators scramble to find other food sources when rabbits die.