Research into rabbit fly strike (myiasis)
By vet Glen Cousquer
It’s that time of year again! Sadly, the fly strike season is upon us and, with it, we will be seeing many hundreds of rabbits infested with maggots.
Flies are attracted to lay eggs on rabbits by a number of factors. These factors include soiling of the skin and fur with faeces and/or urine. Such soiling should not occur in healthy rabbits. Rabbits with digestive or urinary tract disease are particularly vulnerable to soiling and therefore to the condition. Sadly many of these problems are related to poor husbandry and the feeding of inappropriate diets.
The fact that this distressing condition remains so common reflects the fact that we are not doing enough to prevent it. Good preventative plans require a detailed understanding of the underlying epidemiology of the condition. A nationwide survey is being launched this month to improve our understanding of the condition and our ability to prevent it. This information can then be disseminated to veterinary surgeons and rabbit owners alike.
The “Rabbit Myiasis Survey” has been set up as a collaborative research project, supported by the Royal Veterinary College, the Natural History Museum, the University of Bristol and the Rabbit Welfare Fund. As part of the survey, questionnaires are being sent to all UK veterinary practices, together with sample bottles into which maggots can be collected. It is hoped that a questionnaire will be completed for each case of fly strike seen. This will provide considerable data and will allow a more detailed assessment of the factors underlying the condition.
The survey aims to improve our understanding of the factors underlying the occurrence of this condition. It also aims to answer a number of other questions that have received little or no attention to date. The maggots collected will be identified to species level, providing the first nationwide information on the fly species involved.
This project has attracted funding from a number of charitable and industry sources and should contribute greatly to our understanding of the condition. We would like to urge members to support the project. You can do so by encouraging your vets to participate in the study. If you are unfortunate enough to have a rabbit affected by the condition, please ask your vet to complete the questionnaire and collect the necessary samples. The questionnaire will be made available via a link on the Royal Veterinary College website:
http://www.rvc.ac.uk/Files/Rabbit_Myiasis_Questionnaire.doc
Further information on the condition and its prevention is available from the Rabbit Welfare Association website. A case study describing the presentation and treatment of the condition is available from the online wound management journal “Worldwidewounds.com” and is available from:
http://www.worldwidewounds.com/2006/february/Cousquer/Veterinary-Lop-Rabbit-Fly-Strike.html
Rabbit Welfare Association
& Rabbit Welfare Fund
http://www.rabbitwelfarefund.co.uk
(Reg Charity no. 1085689)
http://www.rabbitwelfare.co.uk
Because rabbits deserve better...
National Helpline 0870 046 5249
By vet Glen Cousquer
It’s that time of year again! Sadly, the fly strike season is upon us and, with it, we will be seeing many hundreds of rabbits infested with maggots.
Flies are attracted to lay eggs on rabbits by a number of factors. These factors include soiling of the skin and fur with faeces and/or urine. Such soiling should not occur in healthy rabbits. Rabbits with digestive or urinary tract disease are particularly vulnerable to soiling and therefore to the condition. Sadly many of these problems are related to poor husbandry and the feeding of inappropriate diets.
The fact that this distressing condition remains so common reflects the fact that we are not doing enough to prevent it. Good preventative plans require a detailed understanding of the underlying epidemiology of the condition. A nationwide survey is being launched this month to improve our understanding of the condition and our ability to prevent it. This information can then be disseminated to veterinary surgeons and rabbit owners alike.
The “Rabbit Myiasis Survey” has been set up as a collaborative research project, supported by the Royal Veterinary College, the Natural History Museum, the University of Bristol and the Rabbit Welfare Fund. As part of the survey, questionnaires are being sent to all UK veterinary practices, together with sample bottles into which maggots can be collected. It is hoped that a questionnaire will be completed for each case of fly strike seen. This will provide considerable data and will allow a more detailed assessment of the factors underlying the condition.
The survey aims to improve our understanding of the factors underlying the occurrence of this condition. It also aims to answer a number of other questions that have received little or no attention to date. The maggots collected will be identified to species level, providing the first nationwide information on the fly species involved.
This project has attracted funding from a number of charitable and industry sources and should contribute greatly to our understanding of the condition. We would like to urge members to support the project. You can do so by encouraging your vets to participate in the study. If you are unfortunate enough to have a rabbit affected by the condition, please ask your vet to complete the questionnaire and collect the necessary samples. The questionnaire will be made available via a link on the Royal Veterinary College website:
http://www.rvc.ac.uk/Files/Rabbit_Myiasis_Questionnaire.doc
Further information on the condition and its prevention is available from the Rabbit Welfare Association website. A case study describing the presentation and treatment of the condition is available from the online wound management journal “Worldwidewounds.com” and is available from:
http://www.worldwidewounds.com/2006/february/Cousquer/Veterinary-Lop-Rabbit-Fly-Strike.html
Rabbit Welfare Association
& Rabbit Welfare Fund
http://www.rabbitwelfarefund.co.uk
(Reg Charity no. 1085689)
http://www.rabbitwelfare.co.uk
Because rabbits deserve better...
National Helpline 0870 046 5249
