Myxomatose

 

 

Esther van Praag, Ph.D. - Oversettelse av Camilla Bergstrøm

 

 

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Advarsel: Denne artikkelen inneholder bilder som kan virke støtende

Denne sykdommen har sin opprinnelse i Uruguay, og ble oppdaget av Sanarelli i 1896. Man oppdaget fort at den europeiske villkaninen, (Oryctolagus cuniculi) var svært følsom for dette viruset, og at det forårsaket alvorlige abscesser i huden, før det lidende dyret omsider døde. Viruset spredde seg over hele det amerikanske kontinentet, og er fremdeles endemisk i enkelte regioner (Chili, in O. cuniculi; Western USA, in Sylvilagus bachmani).

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Common form of myxomatosis, with the development of facial myxoma.

På 1950-tallet ble myxomatose-viruset introdusert, og spredt blant villkaniner i Australia, for å redusere bestanden. Denne virksomheten drepte nesten hele bestanden, bortsett fra et lite fåtall som så ut til å være motstandsdyktige for viruset. Kaninene som overlevde begynte å formere seg, og koloniserte landet på nytt. I Europa spredte viruset seg raskt og ble endemisk i enkelte regioner

De gruppene av Lagomorpher (haredyr) som er verst rammet av Myxomviruset er den Europeiske villkaninen (Oryctolagus cuniculi), den Europeiske haren (Lepus europaeus), den amerikanske børstekaninen (Sylvilagus bachmani) og den østamerikanske villkaninen (S. floridanus).

Myxomatose forårsakes av et virus som tilhører poxvirusene. Det finnes flere forskjellige stammer av dette viruset. Noen er ondartede og andre gir seg til kjenne gjennom kroniske symptomer. The later comprises close related viruses that affect he American cottontail rabbit (Sylvilagus sp.) and the “hare fibroma virus”, among others. All these viruses lead to the development of tumors of the skin connective tissues (fibroma). Various strains exist. Some are very virulent (e.g. Standard laboratory, Lausanne, California), others manifest their presence chronically. Genetic studies show a relationship between the myxoma and the Shope fibroma virus

Sykdommen spres hovedsakelig av insekter som lopper, mygg, lus og midd. Det spekuleres også i om viruset kan spres fra en kanin til en annen via kontakt med hud og pels. It was observed that the virus is present in the mouth’s parts of the rabbit flea Spilopsyllus cuniculi, where it can survive over 100 days, independently of the environmental conditions. It is furthermore speculated that the disease may spread from one rabbit to another during skin and fur contact.

 

 

MediRabbit

 

Rabbit suffering from an advanced stage of myxomatosis, with facial abscesses, swelling of the eyelids and lesions on the nose

 

  

MediRabbit

 

Left: Details of crusty lesions around the nose and the mouth

Right: Swollen eye lid and purulent conjunctivitis

 

Symptomer

Hvor alvorlig sykdommen er avhengig av hvor aggressiv virusstammen er. De første symptomene kommer til syne allerede 3 dager etter at kaninen er smittet. først svulmer øyelokkene opp (ødem), deretter leppene, kjønnsorganene og kaninen får konjunktivitt (bindehinnekatarr). I denne fasen av sykdommen blir kaninen blind. Dødsfall inntreffer vanligvis 8-15 dager etter smitte av myxomviruset.

Når sykdommen er kronisk er det mest fremtredende symptomet dannelse av svulster i huden på ører, nese og bein. Disse svulstene vil forsvinne av seg selv etter en tid.

En sideeffekt av den kroniske formen av sykdommen er sekundære bakterieinfeksjoner. Lungebetennelse forårsaket av Pasteurella spp eller Staphylococcus aureus er vanlig, og følges ofte av dyspnoe (åndenød).

 

Diagnose

Although the disease depends on the strain of myxoma virus, it is usually severe and almost always fatal.

De kliniske symptomene bør være tilstrekkelig for å stille diagnosen. I sykdommens startfase må de ikke forveksles med symptomene for spiroketose (treponematose), en sykdom som rammer det perianale området. Svulstene som oppstår ved disse sykdommene har mange likhetstrekk. Myxomatose må heller ikke forveksles med infeksjon i de øvre luftveier - Pasteurellose. Hevelser i det perianale området oppstår kun ved myxomatose.

 

Prof. Richard Hoop

 

Rabbit suffering from myxomatosis with facial abscesses, inflammation of the eyelids conjunctivitis and crusts covering the nasal openings.

 

Hvis tilfellet av myxomatose er kronisk, anbefales biopsi for å sjekke om det er virus tilstedet.

Behandling

Hvis en kanin er rammet av den aggressive formen av myxomatose, er overlevelsessjansen nesten lik null. I dette tilfellet er det mest humant å avlive det syke dyret.

Hvis man velger å behandle kaninen vil det bety intensiv behandling over

lengre tid. Det er viktig å holde den syke kaninen i varme omgivelser (21-22 °C). Ører og øyne må rengjøres med jevne mellomrom. Man bør gi kaninen så mye mat og væske som overhodet mulig, selv om kaninen drikker godt med vann på egenhånd. Svulster i huden kan fjernes kirurgisk.

Dessverre oppstår det ofte sekundære komplikasjoner. De vanligste er luftveissykdom og lungebetennelse på grunn av en sekundærinfeksjon forårsaket av Pasteurella spp. eller Staphylococcus spp.

Kaniner som lider av den kroniske formen av myxomatose kommer seg igjen på egenhånd.

Antibiotika kan gis for å unngå luftveiskomplikasjoner.

 

Depending on the vaccine used and the age or breed of rabbits, vaccinated rabbits may develop a mild to serious form of the disease. In rare cases, the rabbit must be put to sleep.

Denise Baart

Bucks, a ±3 years old male non-castrated dwarf rabbit, suffered from eye infections. It was unsuccessfully treated with Gentapolycort eye drops and Baytril (enrofloxacin). Bucks was then vaccinated against myxomatosis (Lyomyxovax). He apparently developed an allergic reaction to the vaccine. Ten days after the vaccination, a huge lump appeared on his back and he became blind. Blisters appeared around his eyes. Crusty dermatitis developed. As his condition kept worsening, Despite dedicated care by the veterinarian and the owners, his condition kept deteriorating and he was humanely put to sleep.

 

 

For detailed information on myxomatosis in rabbits,

Skin Diseases of Rabbits

by E. van Praag, A. Maurer and T. Saarony,

408 pages, 2010.

 

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A special thanks to Denise Baart, for sharing the pictures of her rabbit Bucks.

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