Myxomatosis is caused by the myxoma virus, a poxvirus spread between rabbits by close contact and biting insects such as fleas and mosquitoes.
There is not a vaccine currently available for Myxomatosis and pet rabbits do not possess any resistance to Myxomatosis and mortality rates are between 96-100%.
Infected rabbits can develop symptoms from 3-21 days after being exposed such as:
- Swelling of the skin around the eyes, ears, occasionally the lips and nostrils and the skin around the anus and genital area
- Lethargy
- Disinterest in food
- Fever
- Eye and nasal discharge
- Breathing difficulties
In some rabbits with an aggressive strain of the virus, minimal symptoms may be noted before sudden death occurs.
What should I do if my rabbit develops Myxomatosis?
It is important to separate any suspected diseased rabbits from other rabbits immediately and seek veterinary help. If a rabbit does die or needs to be euthanised, it is extremely important to disinfect the rabbit’s environment as thoroughly as possible because the virus can survive for long periods of time on surfaces.
- Discarding straw and hay from a hutch
- Emptying the hutch of any other rabbits
- Cleaning and disinfecting (with bleach) the feeding bowls and drinking bottles
- Companion rabbits should be isolated for 3 weeks to ensure they do not develop disease
- Disinfecting the hutch (with bleach) as effectively as possible is mandatory if it is being reused
- It would be advisable to not reintroduce new rabbits into the environment for a minimum of four months
What can I do to reduce the risk:
- Leave all outside shoes outdoors(in the garage or a container to protect from spiders if outside)
- A spray bottle with F10 solution and paper towel at entrances to disinfect immediate entrance points regularly particularly if other pets come into the house.
- Be insect vigilant e.g. make sure fly screens are in good repair, limit opening doors after dark, bug zappers outside or inside.