RAIZO informs you that a case of rabbit hemorrhagic disease (RHD), type 2, has been detected in an unvaccinated pet rabbit in the St-Hyacinthe area, Quebec. The rabbit in question was euthanized on March 30 due to a deterioration in its clinical condition. It presented fever and signs of gastric dilatation. Blood tests revealed liver damage. Following euthanasia, liver samples were sent for PCR analysis to the University of Guelph Animal Health Laboratory. A positive result was issued on April 12, and was subsequently confirmed at the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) reference laboratory on April 17.
RHD is an immediately notifiable disease, which means that laboratories must report positive results to the CFIA and Ministère de l'Agriculture, des Pêcheries et de l'Alimentation (MAPAQ). This disease can cause high mortality in rabbits. What's more, the virus excreted by sick animals is highly resistant in the environment. It can survive for several months while remaining infectious. Rabbit owners may unknowingly carry the virus on their shoes or clothes, and thus infect their rabbits.
In the case of April 18, the affected rabbit was the only rabbit in the house and was kept exclusively indoors. The owner had no connection with rabbit farms. An epidemiological investigation was conducted by the CFIA and revealed that cottontail rabbits had been observed on the premises. These could be the source of excretion of the virus and thus could have contaminated the environment around the home.
For more information on RHD, please consult the following web page: Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease, Government of Quebec. Also, a presentation narrated by Dr. Noémie Summa is available on Youtube.
If your rabbit(s) show clinical signs compatible with RHD, consult a veterinarian. Based on the medical examination and tests performed by your veterinarian, they may contact the MAPAQ veterinarian responsible for the rabbit sector to determine whether RHD is a possibility.
The best way to prevent RHD is to apply biosecurity measures. However, a vaccine is now licensed in Canada and could provide an additional barrier. Consult your veterinarian to determine if vaccine is an option for your animals.
Pet owner report (available in French only)