Rabbit Haemorrhagic Disease Type 2
RVL Surveillance Bulletin 2
September 2018
NEWS FEED
DAFM’s Regional Veterinary Labs and the UCD Veterinary Schools Pathobiology Section have reported an upsurge in detected cases of Rabbit Haemorrhagic disease in September 2018. Rabbit haemorrhagic disease (RHD) is an acute and lethal form of viral hepatitis in rabbits (wild & domestic)with a mortality rate in adults ranging from 70 per cent to 100 per cent. RHD is caused by a virus (RHD virus or RHDV) that was first reported in Europe in 1986. Vaccines were developed and used successfully against the disease. A new variant of the disease was detected in France in 2010. Since its discovery RHDV-2 has spread across Europe and was first diagnosed in Ireland in rabbits from Clare and Dublin in 2016. The disease has since been detected in Co. Cork. RHDV-2 affects rabbits of all ages including young rabbits (<4 weeks). Wild rabbits are the source of infection for RHDV, but no data are currently available for Ireland. Spread of infection may be direct or indirect. Direct spread occurs via oronasal contact with infected rabbits or their faeces, urine or fomites (food, bedding). Indirect spread may also occur.