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Is it possible to test to see if a rabbit is carrying VHD?

S

sillyrabbit

Wise Old Thumper
I know we used to have a couple of vets on here, so thought no harm in asking incase anyone happens to know! I have sought clarification from a vet, I just don't expect an answer anytime soon and am being impatient :roll: :lol:
 
I dont know if it is possible to blood test for exposure to the virus- ie the unusual scenario of a Rabbit coming into contact with it/contracting it and surviving. Titre testing is possible for some caliciviruses in other species. VHD is a calicivirus.

http://ivcjournal.com/talking-titers/

If I understand it correctly (which I may not!) if a Rabbit were to survive VHD they would acquire life-long immunity. There are two forms of VHD- Acute and Subacute. Very few Rabbits survive the Acute form. A small percentage can survive the subacute form. A VHD outbreak in a colony usually sees the Acute form at the start with almost 100% mortality. Later on in the outbreak the subacute form occurs and some Rabbits may survive.

http://wildpro.twycrosszoo.org/S/00dis/viral/Rabbit_haemorraghic_disease.htm

Titre testing to identify an established immunity to a specific disease is controversial. Some Vets say that the results only give a 'snap shot in time' and do not give the full picture of immunity.

Sorry, that is probably no help at all !! I may have completely misunderstood all of what I have read. Hopefully someone far better qualified than me will see this thread and post a reply.
 
sillyrabbit said:
I know we used to have a couple of vets on here, so thought no harm in asking incase anyone happens to know! I have sought clarification from a vet, I just don't expect an answer anytime soon and am being impatient :roll: :lol:
Click to expand...

I had this discussion with my specialist very recently, and it's not the first time she had been asked this question. There is as far as she knows, no way of knowing whether a rabbit is a carrier for VHD or VHD2.

Sadly, the only way to know is via post mortem.

I would be very interested in what your vet has researched about this :)
 
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