Symptoms of listeriosis in rabbits and methods of treatment
Listeriosis in rabbits is a really complex and sometimes even dangerous disease that proceeds with signs of mineengoenciphalitis (central nervous system damage), mastitis (affecting the mammary glands), metritis and an aborted fetus (the lesion is the genitals).
Listeriosis in rabbits
History reference
For the first time symptoms of listeriosis were discovered at the end of the 19th century, later it was reported that the virus was found in birds and other animal species. In Soviet times, the disease was first diagnosed in 1936, today it has spread to more than 50 countries of the world. Farmers and ordinary rabbit owners need to know all the points related to the disease so that they can recognize the infection in time and begin the treatment process.
Basic data
Listeriosis in rabbits is caused by a harmful microorganism called listeria. In fact, this is a movable gram-positive rod, which does not form capsules and spores, has an optional aerobe, 5 flagella, is formed on standard media. The peculiarity of this microorganism is that it can easily survive for a long time in the external environment and multiply in silage or in keratinized tissues, it is not afraid of temperature changes. In straw or hay, listeriosis can be 6-7 months, in feed - 8-9, in urine - 11-12, in water - up to 24. In order to kill Listeria in water, it is necessary to bring it to a boil and boil for 5 -10 minutes.
Epizootological information
Many people ask quite a normal question: what causes listeriosis in rabbits? Most of the animals, especially domestic animals (cows, pigs), quickly adopt the disease. The appearance of listeriosis in rabbits is more typical for pregnant females, young animals and newborns, the rest are very rarely infected.
Listeria carriers are the main sources of viruses that play a role in their rapid spread, as these animals shed Listeria. Infection can occur in the simplest way: through the respiratory tract, damaged skin and mucous membranes. Most often, small rodents are the first to become infected in nature, which, through secretions, can transmit the disease to other pets. Ticks, lice and fleas play a role in the transmission of the causative agent of listeriosis. They can migrate from a sick animal to a healthy one, thereby infecting the entire farm.
This disease is characterized by stationarity: it cannot be repeated in the same place for several years in a row. This is due to the fact that Listeria survive well in the external environment, plus some species of insects can be listeri carriers for more than 2-3 years. Disease outbreaks can occur at any time. But the greatest activity of the spread of listeriosis in rabbits is observed in spring and summer. During this time, the female produces offspring, so she is more susceptible to infection.
Symptoms
Clinical signs.Listeriosis in rabbits has its own characteristics, it can manifest itself in the following forms:
| The form | Characteristic |
| Chronic and subacute | If listeriosis of rabbits manifests itself in these forms, then they quickly lose their appetite, become inactive and depressed. But females do not lose offspring: childbirth does not occur. Since the cubs simply die, the decomposition process begins. Through the outside of the abdominal cavity, you can feel the cubs, but they are already motionless. After 14-21 days, the rabbit dies, there are extremely rare cases when the animal recovers. |
| Sharp | A typical condition for dysteriosis. The most important sign of the development of this form of the disease is that in the second half of the pregnancy, the fetuses are aborted. Animals very quickly lose weight, categorically refuse to eat. Discharge from the genitals begins to come out. Some have paralysis of the hind legs. The rabbits die within 2-5 days. |
| Hyperacute | It is characteristic of the onset of an outbreak of an epidemic of listeriosis, the main sign of the development of the disease is that the female dies abruptly during childbirth or a few days before the appointed time. |
| Erased | The baby dies, somewhere in the middle cycle, it gradually dissolves. Even during the development of the disease, pregnancy indicators (multiple) are visible in the uterus, but it is represented by nodes of a white or scarlet hue, which are filled with pus or cheesy contents. |
| Atypical | Without clearly visible reasons, females have an abortion, but their general condition does not change, and after a while, normalization and complete recovery occurs. |
| Nervous | This is a violation of the normal functioning of the central nervous system. Very often, with this form, an edema of the main brain, hemorrhages, both in the head and in other internal organs, and injection of blood vessels are found. |
| Septic | During the development of this type of disease, there is pulmonary edema, hemorrhages in the heart, catarrhal inflammation of the gastrointestinal canal, an increase in the size of the spleen, small-sized necrotic foci, represented by white nodules on the liver, kidneys and heart muscle. |
Methods and methods of treatment
At the moment, there is no most effective treatment option for this disease. The infected animal on the farm must be isolated and destroyed. Even corpses need to be burned or buried, since the virus can live separately on the surface for a long time. It is important to thoroughly disinfect the cells: this will help to completely remove the virus from the rabbits' residence, because this disease also threatens human health.
The most common treatment will be preventive therapy. From medicines prescribed Tetracycline, biomycin, symptomatic agents.
To be sure that the virus was completely destroyed, it is necessary to calculate the number of dead animals, how many stillborns. It is also important to monitor the general condition of the pregnant females: if they have one of the symptoms, then the infected animal should be immediately removed.
After the animal has overcome the disease, certain (complement-binding) antibodies, as well as agglutinins, form and accumulate in its blood. In order for rabbits to have active immunization, it is worth using a dry vaccine. It is unique in composition because it consists of living microbial cells. The vaccine is injected into the inner part of the thigh, previously this area is treated with alcohol or phenol. Immunity is developed 7-14 days after vaccination.
Preventive measures
This virus is very dangerous, as it can destroy the entire economy. In order to prevent distribution, certain rules must be followed.
- Only purchased rabbits are completed and carried out monthly preventive quarantine.
- From time to time, they arrange for trapping of rodents, conduct laboratory tests for infection with listeriosis.
- The rabbits are systematically treated with specialized means to remove ticks and other blood-sucking animals. For this, a chlorine-known solution is used, which consists of active chlorine, soda ash and xylonaphtha emulsion.
- In the food of animals, you can only use those feeds that meet quality standards. Straw and hay must not be stored for a long time. Under no circumstances should the grain be heat treated.
- If infected individuals appear among the animals, restrictions must be introduced. The Sanitary Epidemiological Station prohibits the transportation of animals, except for those that are taken out for destruction.
- Animals with obvious lesions of the central nervous system are killed, suspicious ones (those that show primary symptoms), are isolated from the rest and try to treat. All animals are immunized, injected with tetracycline, ampicillin (antibiotics).
- Meat can be eaten only after thorough processing (boiling) for more than 2 hours.
- The farm is considered normal only a few months after the animals are diagnosed, as well as after receiving negative results on certain tests. For them, the blood of animals is taken with an interval of 2-3 weeks and a full-fledged study is carried out on the RSK, RIGA, RA. Disinfection will be an obligatory item on this list.
Breeding new offspring is allowed only after full implementation of health measures. Another condition is that all serological test results must be negative.