Contagious disease strikes two separate rabbit colonies in Lake of the Woods County

St. Paul, Minn. - The Minnesota Board of Animal Health is warning rabbit owners to practice good biosecurity after multiple cases of a deadly and highly contagious disease known as Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease Virus type 2 (RHDV2) affected two Lake of the Woods County domestic rabbit colonies. In August, the first rabbit colony owner reported 15 percent of their animals suffered sudden mortality and sent one of the deceased rabbits to their veterinarian. The veterinarian submitted the rabbit to the North Dakota State University (NDSU) Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory where a necropsy was performed and lesions suspicious for RHDV2 were noted. Samples were then sent to the USDA’s National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL) where follow up testing was performed which confirmed those results on Sept. 9. The second rabbit colony, less than a mile away, reported a rapid loss of half their rabbits about a week after the first colony. Although no testing was performed to confirm the presence of the virus at the second colony, the Board of Animal Health is treating the second site as presumptive positive given the similarities in presentation and the proximity of the two colonies. The two sites reported no direct animal contacts, and the owners said they have not visited each other’s farms. Neither colony has a history of RHDV2 infection or vaccination. “Unfortunately, one of the first things to appear in rabbits infected with RHDV2 is sudden death without any other obvious clinical signs. In many outbreaks rabbits suffer from internal bleeding which can be identified clinically by a blood stained nose, mouth, or rectum, followed shortly by death,” said senior veterinarian, Dr. Steve Kivisto. “Up to 90 percent of infected rabbits die from RHDV2 infection and the best way to prevent the disease is to keep it from getting into the colony in the first place.” RHDV2 can be prevented by vaccination and biosecurity. Anyone interested in vaccinating their rabbits should speak with their veterinarian about costs and availability. Biosecurity can be tailored to each property and rabbit colony. The following biosecurity recommendations are a good starting point for most rabbit owners. Human Best Practices • Use specific footwear when caring for rabbits, leaving it in the rabbit housing area to avoid potential cross contamination from other facilities or even virus present outside. • Wash hands before and after handling or caring for rabbits and between groups. • Don’t allow visitors who also have rabbits. • Don’t handle rabbits outside your colony. • Separate and care for sick rabbits last. • Commercial operations may utilize a line of separation at their property and a perimeter buffer area to reduce the risk of virus entering the colony. • Avoid handling sick or dead wild rabbits. Housing • If possible, keep rabbits inside on an impermeable surface. • If rabbits are housed outdoors create a barrier to wildlife, especially wild rabbits. • House rabbits in hutches or cages off the ground. • Do not use forage, tree branches or grass for bedding from areas with infected wildlife. Isolate new rabbits or rabbits returning from a show • Keep new or show rabbits in a separate area for 30 days before allowing contact with your colony. RHDV2 is highly contagious and can spread through direct contact with infected rabbits or indirectly through contact with infected carcasses, blood, urine, and feces. The virus can also be present on contaminated surfaces such as cages, feed, water, and bedding. Insects, scavengers, predators and birds can also spread the virus by contact with infected rabbits or carcasses. RHDV2 is not known to affect human health. For detailed steps on biosecurity for pet rabbits and commercial rabbitries, visit our Biosecurity for Rabbits document. If you find sick or dead wild rabbits, please contact the DNR’s information center at 651-296-6157 or 888-MINNDNR. Dead domestic rabbits should be reported to the Board at 651-296-2942.