Rabbit syphilis
Rabbit syphilis, also known as treponematosis, vent disease, or venereal spirochetosis, is caused by the bacterium Treponema cuniculi. This is not a zoonotic disease and can be passed by direct and sexual (venereal) contact.[1]:222
Transmission is through direct contact with infected skin or from infected dam to kits at birth. Incubation periods are long, lasting up to 10 to 16 weeks.[1]:235
Symptoms
It is a self-limiting disease; carriers may be asymptomatic until stress occurs.[1]:235
Other symptoms include the following:[1]:222
- lesions on the skin of the perineum and genitilia.
- facial lesions around the chin, lips, nostrils, and eyelids.
- inguinal lymph nodes may be enlarged.
Affected female rabbits can also have the following symptoms:[1]:235
- inflammation of the uterus (metritis)
- abortion
- neonatal death
Bucks are often asymptotic carriers and may have small star-shaped stars on their scrotum.[1]:222
Diagnosis
A skin biopsy sample with silver staining can confirm a diagnosis of rabbit syphilis.[1]:222
Treatment
Rabbits with syphilis are effectively treated with repeated injections of penicillin.[1]:223 Penicillin should never be given to rabbits orally. Remove nursing kits from dams during treatment to decrease the risk of their developing penicillin-associated enterotoxemia.[1]:236
Tetracyclines and chloramphenicol can also be effective.[1]:223 Many strains of syphilis have been tested to be resistant to azithromycin or erythromycin.[2] Please note that erythromycin is contraindicated in rabbits due to its ability to incite gastrointestinal disease.
Experiences
- Alfredo Pérez-Guiot et al. (2023). Syphilis due to Treponema paraluisleporidarum ecovar Cuniculus (TPeC) in a domestic rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) in Mexico
- Vladimír Jekl et al. (2021). Penicillin Treatment Failure in Rabbit Syphilis Due to the Persistence of Treponemes (Treponema paraluisleporidarum Ecovar Cuniculus) in the Focus of Infection
- Wick & Fable. (2017). (Update!) Fungal/Ringworm Tx (no actual worms involved)
- Tal Saarony. (2017). Case report: Atypical treponematosis - rabbit syphilis in a pet rabbit
- Pipkin Rabbit Rescue. (2010). Rabbit syphilis - Dougal
- Kumiko Saito et al. (2003). Chloramphenicol Treatment for Rabbit Syphilis [PDF]
Further reading
- Medirabbit. Treponematosis - rabbit syphilis
- Charles River. (2009). Treponema paraluiscuniculi [PDF]
- The Merck Veterinary Manual, Bacterial and Mycotic Diseases of Rabbits - search for "Treponematosis"
- Raising-Rabbits.com. Rabbit Syphilis
Here are libraries on rabbit syphilis.
- RabbitsOnline.net. Vent Disease (Rabbit Syphilis)
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 1.9 Quesenberry, K & Carpenter, J. (2012). Ferrets, rabbits, and rodents: Clinical medicine and surgery. (3rd ed.).
- ↑ University of Washington School of Medicine. (2004). Antibiotic-resistant strain of syphilis is spreading, UW study finds. Retrieved 26 Sep 2021 from http://depts.washington.edu/mednews/vol8/no29/syphilis.html