FAQ

Rabbit haemorrhagic disease (RHD) is a viral disease caused by a calicivirus that affects leporids. It is characterized by causing acute hepatitis with a high mortality rate (50-90%) and morbidity.

The main clinical manifestations are respiratory and neurological signs, apathy and anorexia.

Yes, both pet and wild rabbits can catch this disease.

It is a disease that usually presents with a hyperacute form, which is characterized by sudden death without any clinical signs. Therefore, necropsy should be done to ensure that there are no gross lesions consistent with RHD.

In subclinical chronic cases, its diagnosis can be more complicated, since it can present different clinical signs. Therefore, it should be included in the differential diagnosis when the animal shows signs of liver disease, respiratory and/or neurological signs.

There are several commercial vaccines which protect rabbits against this pathology.

Yes, any rabbit is susceptible to the disease, as Rabbit Haemorrhagic Disease Virus (RHDV) is a highly resistant virus in the environment. It can be transmitted by direct contact through secretions or excretions of other infected rabbits, or through indirect contact. Indirect contact includes shoes, clothing, contaminated feed, insects, etc.

Yes, RHDV2 has been shown to affect leporids. Therefore, it can affect the European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus), the species of the genus Sylvilagus and it has been reported in several hares (Lepus).