RABBIT HEMORRHAGIC DISEASE VIRUS 2 UPDATE by Christine Casey DVM, MPH, MS
State Wildlife Veterinarian, Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources
Since rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus 2 (RHDV2) was first detected in March of 2020 in the south- western United States, it has spread rapidly across the country. As of February 1st, 2022, RHDV2 has been
confirmed in 19 states with outbreaks in both domestic and wild populations. Tennessee and Kentucky are the most recent states confirmed with outbreaks in domestic rabbits. With the home range of wild rabbits and hares ranging from a few acres to several miles, the rapid expansion of this foreign animal disease is likely the direct result of anthropogenic activities.
In December of 2021, despite being hundreds of miles from the nearest RHDV2 detection, Kentucky con- firmed the first case of RHDV2 in the state. Samples from two pet rabbits at a single residence in Jefferson County that had died acutely were tested and confirmed by NVSL. USDA APHIS Veterinary Services lead an epidemiological investigation following this detection. Unfortunately, the route of exposure was not able to be determined and with no quarantine authority no further actions were taken.
For domestic rabbits the best protection is vaccination and following sound biosecurity practices. While Kentucky Department of Agriculture has approved the use of a RHDV2 vaccine in Kentucky for domestic rabbits it does not regulate domestic rabbits. Terefore, there are no importation, CVI, or other require- ments for domestic rabbits in Kentucky. With the lack of regulations to prevent introduction, it is essential to educate the public about recognizing clinical signs and following biosecurity recommendations to re- duce the spread of this fatal disease. Rabbits rarely show clinical signs of infection, but symptoms can in- clude bleeding from the nose or mouth, lethargy, loss of appetite, difficulty breathing, lack of coordination or convulsions. If an infected animal survives, it can continue to shed the virus for several days.
Unfortunately, the potential for spillover into wild rabbit populations, which has been documented in oth- er states with outbreaks, poses a creditable threat to wild rabbits. Unlike domestic rabbits, the commercially available vaccine has limited utility in wild popu- lations due to the inability to deliver vaccine ef- fectively to free-ranging populations at a frequency high enough to achieve herd immunity. Te poten- tial consequence of a disease with a mortality rate between 20 to 80% on an integral prey species has wildlife health officials concerned.
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Terefore, the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources (KDFWR) is asking for the public’s assistance by reporting any unusual wild rabbit deaths in their area to improve early detec- tion and limit the spread of the disease.
To report a sick or deceased wild rabbit, contact Kentucky Fish and Wildlife at 1-800-858-1549 or
Info.Center@
ky.gov.
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