Myxomatosis

[snake]

I have been seeing a number of wild Rabbits with Myxomatosis over the last week or so. This disease seem to be affecting them very early this year, its normally well into July before I start to see any affected ones.

At least this little fella is ok.

[mh68]

Thats a great shot Snake. Our Rabbits up here were hit really badly last Summer but numbers have fully recovered now - i`ve seen hundreds these last few weeks. Not seen any with Myxi so far but i`ll keep my eyes open...

Mark H

[demicav]

It's a terrible disease. The bunny in the picture looks, well, a picture of health.

[Meta menardi]

I think it has more to do with population density than time of year. Rabbits have changed their habits, and spend more time not in burrows, Myxy is spread by fleas that live in the Rabbits ears, when the Rabbit population gets more dense, they start to live in burrows more frequently, the ears rub on the tops of the tunnels, the fleas jump off and then jump onto the next one down the tunnel.

Is this a myth or not, anyone got any comments, it is a theory I found in the coalplace of my mind, and I can't remember who put it there.

[mh68]

Originally Posted by Meta menardi

I think it has more to do with population density than time of year. Rabbits have changed their habits, and spend more time not in burrows, Myxy is spread by fleas that live in the Rabbits ears, when the Rabbit population gets more dense, they start to live in burrows more frequently, the ears rub on the tops of the tunnels, the fleas jump off and then jump onto the next one down the tunnel.

Is this a myth or not, anyone got any comments, it is a theory I found in the coalplace of my mind, and I can't remember who put it there.

Last summer I put the bad myxi outbreak round here down to the very wet weather, causing the Rabbits to spend more time underground and in close proximity to one another, which in a way reinforces your theory.

Mark H

[snake]

There are not many months of the year when you won't find fleas on a Rabbit.
We have a huge population of Rabbits that burrow into the sea walls and ditch banks. Very few live out in the open yet it is only a certain time of the year the disease rears its ugly head.
Increase in Rabbit numbers and warm weather seem to bring it on.
Come September/October when the weather cools it is gone ( or maybe the ones that are left are immune ).
Possibly the warm weather triggers something in the flea?

[lincs lass]

When I first moved to Lincs, in my garden were lots of bunnies (about 9 adults at one stage) and I used to watch the babies running around the garden. Then they died off from Myxi, and again the next year the bunnies were back. Now they are no more the whole burrow has died off. Myxi is spread by biting bugs such as fleas and mosquitos, as when they bite an infected animal they then carry the infection to the next one they bite. I've seen a lot of pet bunnies with myxi which are usually pts. Although you get the myxi where the eyes are all pus filled and a skin myxi which is scabby patches.

[ellen h]

At the moment there is are a lot of Rabbits through the country park and all look healthy.However I know come July/August myxi can strike as it has over the last few years.I remember one year was so bad you could hardly walk 10 yds without coming across a dead or dying Rabbit.Even the foxes had their fill of Rabbit meat!
I was forced to kill one or two myself(I was shown how to knock one on the head or wring its neck by a friend who hunted Rabbits for food)as I couldnt bear to see the poor things suffering.
I believe this is a man made disease,invented to control the Rabbit population-is that so?
ellen

[Kayleigh]

Lucky bunny

I was driving home from work the other day when a baby bunny ran straight in front of the car (doing 60) the bunny stopped in-between my front tyres.
I looked in rear-view mirror he hopped way happily..

[Meta menardi]

Originally Posted by ellen h

At the moment there is are a lot of Rabbits through the country park and all look healthy.However I know come July/August myxi can strike as it has over the last few years.I remember one year was so bad you could hardly walk 10 yds without coming across a dead or dying Rabbit.Even the foxes had their fill of Rabbit meat!
I was forced to kill one or two myself(I was shown how to knock one on the head or wring its neck by a friend who hunted Rabbits for food)as I couldnt bear to see the poor things suffering.
I believe this is a man made disease,invented to control the Rabbit population-is that so?
ellen

I think it is a natural disease, but was introduced to this country. My Dad was an excellent rifle shot (we are going back about 60 years) and would poach with a .22. Reckoned he shot 5 sacks full of Rabbits in a night, they really were a rampant plague. Clap you hands, and a whole hillside would go down a Rabbit hole.

It is a very unpleasant disease and if the population gets up, then they get Myxy, it is horrible.

[ellen h]

Originally Posted by Meta menardi

I think it is a natural disease, but was introduced to this country. My Dad was an excellent rifle shot (we are going back about 60 years) and would poach with a .22. Reckoned he shot 5 sacks full of Rabbits in a night, they really were a rampant plague. Clap you hands, and a whole hillside would go down a Rabbit hole.

It is a very unpleasant disease and if the population gets up, then they get Myxy, it is horrible.

Yes you are right it is a natural disease that originated in South America where it only caused a mild disease in the local Rabbit population.
However in Australia (where the european Rabbit had been introduced by early colonists)the Rabbits had multiplied to such an extent by the 1950s that myxie was introduced to control the population.
"By accident" it was also introduced into Europe which decimated the wild Rabbit population!
So thanks to an "accident"(hmmm) myxie periodically rears its ugly head!
ellen

[lincs lass]

Myxi is a man made disease, a french man created it and infected 2 Rabbits that were on his estate and released them (he did not think they would leave the estate) and it spread like wildfire amongst the bunnies. Was taken to Australia to control the explosion of bunnies out there.

The bunnies that catch it just starve to death as they cannot see or smell to eat.

[RobSutton]

I'm pretty sure it is a natural virus - it was used in Australia in the 1950's and then a French microbiologist introduced it into France by infecting two Rabbits and releasing them in 1952. I believe it was first identified in South America in the 1800's.

[witham]

wherever it came from or who invented it. it's a horrible disease the Rabbits suffer greatly, around here they regularly get it I have come across odd ones where I walk the dog and years ago when the kids were younger and still at home we had a couple of pet Rabbits die from it even though the last one was injected against it

[shirl]

It really isn't nice to find Rabbits with the disease, I saw a young Rabbit again this morning with it (sends my working springer spaniel mad trying to get it because it didn't want to move out of the way). It's eyes were red and swollen and you know it doesn't have long to live.

Shirl

[bigwig]

Myxomatosis (commonly called 'myxi') is a disease which affects Rabbits and is caused by the Myxoma virus. The virus is man made. First observed in Uruguay in the late 1800s, it was deliberately introduced into Australia in 1950 in an attempt to control Rabbit infestation and population there. It was introduced illegally to France in 1952 and as a result spread to the rest of Europe. I have 9 houserabbits, so am well aware of this horrible disease. They are all vaccinated,of course.

[thunder]

Originally Posted by bigwig

Myxomatosis (commonly called 'myxi') is a disease which affects Rabbits and is caused by the Myxoma virus. The virus is man made.

No, the virus is not 'man-made'. It is a naturally occuring virus. Man-introduced, perhaps, to many parts of the world, but not man-made.

henrya

[shei111]

Originally Posted by Kayleigh

Lucky bunny

I was driving home from work the other day when a baby bunny ran straight in front of the car (doing 60) the bunny stopped in-between my front tyres.
I looked in rear-view mirror he hopped way happily..

You hooliganshei.

[Hoppingmad]

Lots of Rabbits here in Essex and no sign of the dreaded Myxomatosis. 25 years ago all the fields here were full of suffering Rabbits or dead ones. I have heard that some Rabbits can survive this disease and are then immune to further outbreaks. Has anyone else heard this?

[ellen h]

Well remember that year,in fact mentioned about it in a link in this thread.At least the Rabbits are healthy in the country park(Hadleigh) at the moment!!!
When there is an outbreak there always seem to be a few Rabbits that are apparently immune to myxie,more by luck probably.
ellen

[The Black Rabbit]

Originally Posted by mh68

Last summer I put the bad myxi outbreak round here down to the very wet weather, causing the Rabbits to spend more time underground and in close proximity to one another, which in a way reinforces your theory.

Mark H

You're right in part mate.
Myxi (and the Black Rabbit should know this eh?) is mainly passed via the flea but ALSO passed by the mozzie - a significant vector indeed.
The wet weather (last year) was a double whammy for wabbits.
The fleas had a field day as you described above pal, AS DID the mozzies because of the weather.
This year might be similar.... can't tell just yet.

[The Black Rabbit]

Originally Posted by Hoppingmad

Lots of Rabbits here in Essex and no sign of the dreaded Myxomatosis. 25 years ago all the fields here were full of suffering Rabbits or dead ones. I have heard that some Rabbits can survive this disease and are then immune to further outbreaks. Has anyone else heard this?

Yes - this is true.
Myxi never disappeared from our shores after 1953, and like many other diseases, (whether accidentally introduced, or deliberately, or entirely natural) there are MANY Rabbits which indeed are "immune" to it.
It always is distressing to see wabbits lolloping around with eyes full of pus, but there is NO need to be overly concerned - like it or not, myxi is here to stay, and in no way shape or form is the disease going to virtually wipe out the Rabbit populations in some parts of the UK like it did in the '60s.

TBR

[ellen h]

Have just returned from a walk in the local country park
As usual Rabbits cross your path throughout the park and the dog gives chase but would never normally catch them.But today one was just sitting there with its back towards us nibbling quietly at the grass.
Unfortunately before I could react my dog(who was about 5 feet in front of me)was on it.I shouted,he let go but the poor Rabbit could only stagger sideways.It was covered in open sores and its eyes had the tell tale swelling and discharge.Yes I think it had myxie!!!
Couldnt leave it like that so put it out of its misery,but feel terrible-even though its the right thing to do.
ellen

[mh68]

Originally Posted by The Black Rabbit

You're right in part mate.
Myxi (and the Black Rabbit should know this eh?) is mainly passed via the flea but ALSO passed by the mozzie - a significant vector indeed.
The wet weather (last year) was a double whammy for wabbits.
The fleas had a field day as you described above pal, AS DID the mozzies because of the weather.
This year might be similar.... can't tell just yet.

Cheers Doug. I hadnt considered mossies too. It`ll be interesting to see how many infected Rabbits show up round here after this `orrible wet spell has passed....if its anything like last year, quite a few i`d imagine.

Mark H