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Also known as '''''Rabbit Pox
Also known as '''''Rabbit Pox
[[Image:Myxomatosis_rabbit_logo.jpg|200px|right|thumb|A European Rabbit afflicted by Myxomatosis Source: Wikimedia Commons; Author: Chris Bayley, 2007]]
[[Image:Myxomatosis_rabbit_logo.jpg|200px|right|thumb|A European Rabbit afflicted by Myxomatosis Source: Wikimedia Commons; Author: Chris Bayley, 2007]]
==Prevention==
==Prevention==
Vaccination and control of insect parasites are the most important means of disease prevention in domestic rabbits. In order to control fleas, wild rabbits should be kept away from pet rabbits and spot-on products may be used. Mosquito control can be achieved using insect repellent strips and fine mesh netting.
Vaccination and control of insect parasites are the most important means of disease prevention in domestic rabbits. In order to control fleas, wild rabbits should be kept away from pet rabbits and spot-on products may be used. Mosquito control can be achieved using insect repellent strips and fine mesh netting. The use of Vapona® strips and Nuvan Top® to prevent fly strike and myxomatosis is recommended (Lawton 1993). Rearguard® (Novartis) has a licensed place in the prevention of fly-strike. Permethrin sprayed on mosquito netting to cover hutches has been recommended.
The myxomatosis vaccine currently used in the UK is a live vaccine containing ''Shope fibroma'' virus (Nobivac Myxo, Intervet). Antibodies made against ''Shope fibroma'' provide cross immunity against myxomatosis. Intradermal vaccination is performed in order to achieve adequate immunity and annual booster vaccination is recommended. Live attenuated vaccines have been used elsewhere in Europe but have been associated with other side effects such as immunosuppression.
The myxomatosis vaccine currently used in the UK is a live vaccine containing ''Shope fibroma'' virus (Nobivac Myxo, Intervet) - Shope's fibroma virus causes fibromatosis, a benign disease of Sylvilagus loridanus, an American lagomorph species. Antibodies made against ''Shope fibroma'' provide cross immunity against myxomatosis for three months. Intradermal vaccination is performed in order to achieve adequate immunity and annual booster vaccination is recommended; the manufacturers advise revaccination every six months in the event of "high risk" exposure. Live attenuated vaccines have been used elsewhere in Europe but have been associated with other side effects such as immunosuppression.
===Note on “Shopes Viruses”===
Shope fibromavirus and Shope Papillomavirus (two distinct viruses) have dermal manifestations but are rare in the UK. Note the vaccine, Nobivac Myxo®; Intervet, contains the Shope Fibroma virus and is used to confer immunity against myxomatosis in rabbits in the UK.
*Shope papillomatosis is manifested mostly on the eyelids and ears as a pedunculated cornified surface over a fleshy central area. Spontaneous outbreaks have been recorded in domestic rabbits. Pedunculated cornified surface overlying a fleshy central area. After manual removal of the lesions, can extend to squamous cell carcinoma. Probably vector-spread (Meredith 2006). Papillomata on eyelids and ears. (Percy and Barthold 1993)
*Shope fibromavirus, the cause of Rabbit (Shope) Fibromatosis, leads to flattened, firm, subcutaneous, freely movable tumours (=/<7cm diameter) on legs and feet sometimes on the muzzle and periorbital and perineal areas, and may persist for several months. In young rabbits metastasis to abdominal bone marrow and abdominal viscera may occur. (Percy and Barthold 1993)
==Treatment==
==Treatment==
In-contact rabbits might not be actually incubating the disease as they might not be infected yet and therefore the vaccine has a better chance of working. If they are already incubating the disease the vaccine won’t work so there is definitely no benefit if clinical signs are established and no point using it as a therapy.
In-contact rabbits might not be actually incubating the disease as they might not be infected yet and therefore the vaccine has a better chance of working. If they are already incubating the disease the vaccine won’t work so there is definitely no benefit if clinical signs are established and no point using it as a therapy.
{{Learning
|literature search = [http://www.cabdirect.org/search.html?q=%28%28title%3A%28%22myxoma+virus%22%29%29%29+OR+%28%28title%3A%28%22myxomatosis%22%29%29%29&fq=sc%3A%22ve%22 Myxomatosis publications]
}}
[http://www.cabdirect.org/search.html?q=%28%28title%3A%28%22myxoma+virus%22%29%29%29+OR+%28%28title%3A%28%22myxomatosis%22%29%29%29&fq=sc%3A%22ve%22 Myxomatosis publications]
==References==
==References==
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[[Category:Leporipoxviruses]][[Category:Rabbit Viruses]]
[[Category:Leporipoxviruses]][[Category:Rabbit Viruses]]
[[Category:Rabbit Dermatology]]
[[Category:To_Do_-_SophieIgnarski]]