Rotavirus
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Rotaviruses are host-specific enveloped RNA viruses that are particularly associated with diarrhea in young animals.[1]:343
Rotavirus has been associated with outbreaks of enteritis with mild diarrhea, usually in rabbits under 6 weeks of age.[1]:343 The disease has been reported in many parts of the world, including Japan, Europe, Canada, and the US.[1]:344
Symptoms
Severity depends on virus strain, intercurrent disease, immune status and all the other factors involved in enteric disease in weanling rabbits.[1]:344
Causes
In infected colonies, adult animals are seropositive and confer maternal immunity to their offspring, but the young rabbits become infected when the maternal immunity wears off during weaning.[1]:344
Infected rabbits shed the virus in their feces, which is probably the main route of transmission, but there is evidence for airborne spread.[1]:344
Treatment
Rabbits with rotavirus should be given supportive care, including fluid therapy and supportive feeding.[1]:344
Further reading
- Merck Veterinary Manual, Viral Diseases of Rabbits > Rotaviral Infection
- M.E. Thouless et al, Pathogenicity of rotavirus in rabbits. (1988).
- Vetbook, Rotavirus