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Treponema paraluiscuniculi (view source)
Revision as of 07:23, 12 August 2011
, 07:23, 12 August 2011no edit summary
==Description and Treatment==
Also know as: '''''Rabbit syphilis — venereal spirochaetosis — Treponematosis — vent disease'''''
''Treponema cuniculi'' causes crusty lesions on the skin of the nose, genitalia, perineum, ears, nose, eyelids, lips and vent and responds to weekly injections of procaine penicillin SC q7days. '''Take care that you read the label on the injection bottle carefully.'' If the concentration is given in International units, remember that 1 IU = 0.6 mcgm (Prescott and Baggot 1993) and calculate the dose accordingly. The incubation period is 10-16 weeks (DiGiacomo et al 1984 cited by Harcourt Brown 2002). Do not give penicillins even by the parenteral route to nursing does for fear of toxic responses in the kits.
==Introduction==
Trepnoematosis, a rabbit venereal disease, is caused by the '''spirochaete ''T. cuniculi'''''.
It occurs in both sexes and is '''spread by coitus and from the doe to offspring'''.
The infection is more common in '''breeding colonies''', and is endemic and subclinical in many rabbitries, where it can spread rapidly.
It is closely related to the human syphilis organism, but ''T. cuniculi'' is '''not transmissible to other animals or humans'''.
==Clinical signs==
There may be no clinical signs.
Rabbits may present with '''ulcerated and crusty lesions''' around the '''external genitalia, perineal area, nose, eyelids and lips'''.
Lesions on the face are as a result of autoinfection from the rabbit grooming the infected genital area.
Transient '''infertility''' may occur in both sexes. In the female this is related to metritis or retained placenta, and in the male this is due to preputial inflammation.
There may also be '''abortions''' in the colony.
==Diagnosis==
==Diagnosis==
Clinical signs are quite suggestive of the disease, although [[Myxomatosis|myxomatosis]] lesions are quite similar. A rapid response to treatment is also a useful sign.
The diagnosis can be made by demonstrating treponemes in '''dark field microscopic preparations''' of skin scrapings or of a urine sample.
The organism is a motile corkscrew-shaped spirochaete.
'''Direct immunofluorescence''' can also be used to demostrate the organism.
'''Serological tests''', haemagglutination and the indirect immunofluorescent antibody test can be used to detect subclinical carriers.
==Treatment==
Penicillin is effective in treating this disease. '''Benzathine penicillin G''' can be given parenterally two to three times at 7-day intervals.
This should result in regression of the lesions and eliminates the infection.
Potential [[Antibiotic-Associated Dysbacteriosis|caecal dysbiosis]] should be carefully monitored for, and rabbits should be fed a '''high fibre diet'''. The antibiotic should not be given orally. Penicillins should not be given to nursing does, even by the parenteral route, for fear of toxic responses in the kits.
In a breeding colony, '''all rabbits should be treated''' even if they are not showing any signs. Only seronegative rabbits should be used for breeding to eliminate the infection from the herd.
The '''prognosis is good''' and lesions usually heal within 2 weeks. It is possible for the lesions to recede but for a '''carrier state''' to remain. Rabbits can also become reinfected if in contact with an infected rabbit.
{{Learning
|flashcards = [[Rabbit Medicine and Surgery Q&A 14]]
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==References==
==References==
Laber-Laird, K. (1996) '''Handbook of rodent and rabbit medicine''' ''Elsevier Health sciences''
Harcourt Brown F (2002) '''Textbook of Rabbit Medicine''' ''Butterworth Heinemann Oxford'' ISBN 0 7506 4002
Rosenthal, K. (2008) '''Rapid review of exotic animal medicine and husbandry''' ''Manson Publishing''
Merck and Co (2008) '''The Merck Veterinary Manual''' ''Merial''
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[[Category:Bacterial Skin Diseases – Rabbit]]
[[Category:Bacterial Skin Diseases – Rabbit]]