Although tularemia is a disease present in Asia, Europe and North America, luckily it is not very common and if our rabbit stays inside the home it will be difficult for him to contract it. Even so, in this article on our site we will talk about tularemia in rabbits, how it occurs, what its symptoms are and how we can treat and prevent it. In this way we will prevent our rabbit from contracting a pathology that can be fatal and that, moreover, is a zoonosis, that is, a disease communicable to humans
What is tularemia?
This is a bacterial disease caused by Francisella tulariensis. It can affect lagomorphs and rodents, which will act as a reservoir, and cattle, cats, dogs or humans. In addition, it can be transmitted directly by coming into contact with animals or contaminated environments or through the intervention of a vector, that is, an intermediate animal that can be a tick, a mosquito or horseflies.
The bacteria is very resistant in the environment, even withstanding sub-zero temperatures and cleaning with bleach. It can live weeks or months. Instead, he shows sensitivity to common disinfectants and sunlight. The main characteristic of tularemia in rabbits is that they can remain asymptomatic and die suddenly
How is tularemia spread in rabbits?
Rabbits can contract tularemia by come into contact with contaminated environments, as the bacteria can be found in the soil, on vegetation or in the water. Infection can also occur if they ingest infected food or water. But, in addition, tularemia in rabbits can be contracted by inhalation and, very importantly, by vector bites
A rabbit that we have inside the house is going to be difficult for it to get sick, but we should not neglect its protection for that. Tularemia can affect human beings, who will be infected basically in the same way as rabbits, that is, by stings, bites, contact with contaminated objects that cause chafing or cuts. The bacteria can also enter the body through the conjunctival, respiratory or digestive routes, causing different symptoms.
Symptoms of tularemia in rabbits
Tularemia in rabbits can be asymptomatic and produce a generalized infection that can cause sudden death of the animal In milder cases we can observe symptoms such as fever, generalized weakness, ulcers or abscesses. Also, the rabbit's behavior may change. Sick people tend to clump together and have a coarse, unsightly coat of hair.
In humans it usually produces chills, pain in muscles and joints, headaches, vomiting, etc. Likewise, depending on the point of entry, specific symptoms will manifest. For example, in the case of vector bites, there may be ulcers and necrosis at the point of inoculation and inflammation of the nearest lymph node. If the entry is through the respiratory route, it produces pneumonia Through the digestive route, gastroenteritis Individuals who overcome tularemia maintain immunity for years, although, after a while, a new infection could occur.
Tularemia treatment in rabbits
Tularemia in rabbits, as a bacterial disease, is treated with antibiotics that the veterinarian must prescribe once the diagnosis is confirmed. At the moment, there is no vaccine for tularemia. Since it is a life-threatening pathology, prevention is our best weapon. In the next section we will detail the preventive measures.
How to prevent tularemia in rabbits?
To avoid tularemia in rabbits but also in humans, the following guidelines should be observed:
- Avoid contact with unfamiliar animals that look bad.
- Keep rabbits indoors.
- Wash your hands well.
- Do not drink water whose origin is unknown.
- Wash fruits and vegetables well.
- Properly cook meat.
- Deworming or use repellents to prevent vector transmission. To do this, we recommend reviewing the article "The best products for deworming rabbits".
- Use gloves if we must handle corpses or apparently sick animals.
- As always, see a vet or doctor if you have any suspicious symptoms.
Consult the article on "The most common diseases in rabbits" to offer correct general preventive medicine to your furry companion, since not only tularemia can affect them.
