Introduction

• Adenovirus infection is rarely reported as a clinical problem in the rabbit.
• Cause: Adenovirus.
• Signs: profuse diarrhea, death.
• Diagnosis: on necropsy.
• Treatment: supportive treatment only.
• Prognosis: guarded.

Presenting signs

• Rabbits present with profuse diarrhea, and mortality rates of 10-15% have been reported in a group situation.

Geographic incidence

• One outbreak has been reported in young, farmed rabbits in Hungary.
• A serological survey of rabbits in Quebec, Canada also revealed serum-neutralizing antibodies to bovine adenovirus type 1 in rabbits in three different colonies.

Age difference

• The reported outbreak occurred in 6-8 week old rabbits, with older rabbits thought to have developed adequate serum antibody levels.

Cost considerations

• Group outbreaks may result in significant morbidity and mortality.

Pathogenesis

Diagnosis

Treatment

Prevention

Outcomes

Further Reading

Publications

Refereed papers

• Recent references from PubMed and VetMedResource.
• Bodon L & Prohászka L (1981) Isolation of an adenovirus from rabbits with diarrhoea. Acta Veterinaria Academiae Scientiarum Hungaricae 28 (3), 247-255 PubMed.
• Descoteaux J P, Whissel K & Assaf R (1980) Detection of antibody titers to bovine viruses in rabbit sera. Lab Anim Sci 30 (3), 581-582 PubMed.
• Bodon L, Prohaszka L, Adam E et al (1979) Isolation of an adenovirus from rabbits. Acta Veterinaria Academiae Scientiarum Hungaricae 27 (1/2), 73-75 VetMedResource.
• Reddick R A & Lefkowitz S S (1969) In vitro immune responses of rabbits with persistent adenovirus type 5 infection. J Immunol 103 (4), 687-694 PubMed.

Other sources of information

• Oglesbee O & Lord B (2021) Gastrointestinal Diseases of Rabbits. In: Ferrets, Rabbits and Rodents. Clinical Medicine and Surgery. 4th edn. Eds: Quesenberry K E, Orcutt C J, Mans C & Carpenter J W. Elsevier, USA. pp 174-187.
• Oglesbee O (2011) Diarrhea - Acute. In: Blackwell’s Five-Minute Veterinary Consult: Small Mammal. 2nd edn. Wiley Blackwell, UK. pp 388-390.
• MacLachlan N J & Dubovi E J (2011) Adenoviridae. In: Fenners Veterinary Virology. 4th edn. Academic Press, UK. pp 203-212.
• Baker D G (2003) Pathogens of Rabbits. In: Natural Pathogens of Laboratory Animals: Their Effects on Research. ASM Press, USA. pp 147-148.
• DiGiacomo R R & Mare C J (1994) Viral Diseases. In: The Biology of the Laboratory Rabbit. 2nd edn. Academic Press Inc, USA. pp 188.