Papillomatosis – Rabbit

Papillomatosis is seen only rarely in rabbits but may be seen as pedunculated masses attached to the oral or rectal mucosa. Usually self-limiting, but excision and autogenous vaccine may be considered in recalcitrant cases.

Oral papillomatosis is caused by the rabbit oral papillomavirus and is quite easily transmissible (Percy and Barthold 1993; Okerman 1994). The rectal manifestation of papillomavirus infection appears to be commoner in the UK but is alleged not to be so easily transmitted Mackay R (2000). Both of these manifestations appear to be self-limiting.

References

• Mackay, R. (2000) Dermal fibrosis in a rabbit. Veterinary Record 147 252
• Percy, D. H. and Barthold, S. W. (1993) Pathology of Laboratory Rodents and Rabbits. Iowa sate University Press, Ames