E cuniculi - risk to humans

[Mmv1291]

My sweet boy has been diagnosed and sadly passed away from what the vet believed to be e cuniculi. The vet also informed me this can be transmitted to people with weakened immune systems. Has anyone ever dealt with this or the fear of contracting this from their rabbit? My husband and i both have recently been very sick. Trying to put my mind at ease a little bit and any information will help.

 

[Jack's-Jane]

My sweet boy has been diagnosed and sadly passed away from what the vet believed to be e cuniculi. The vet also informed me this can be transmitted to people with weakened immune systems. Has anyone ever dealt with this or the fear of contracting this from their rabbit? My husband and i both have recently been very sick. Trying to put my mind at ease a little bit and any information will help.

I am very sorry to hear that your Rabbit passed away It is extremely rare for EC to be passed from a Rabbit to a human and as your Vet rightly said it is only really a possibility if the human has a significantly compromised immune system-eg someone on Chemotherapy or someone with HIV aids or has had a Splenectomy.

If it would offer you reassurance you could bleach clean (using a 10% bleach solution) every area that your dear Rabbit had contact with (EC is spread by spores in an infected Rabbits urine). Areas that cannot be bleach cleaned can be steam cleaned as steam kills EC spores.

This link may be useful to read

https://www.bmj.com/rapid-response/2011/10/31/rabbit-parasite-poses-threat-humans

I hope that both you and your husband are recovering from your recent illness.

 

[Mmv1291]

Thank you so much for the information. I have horrible anxiety so despite what the doctor telling me, I’ve been panicking thinking my
Bronchitis and him having the flu is enough immunocompromisation.

I will certainly look into that link. Thank you again.

 

[joey&boo]

I'm sorry for your loss. I (& several others on this forum) attended an afternoon of lectures on EC by now retired rabbit specialist, Frances Harcourt-Brown. She went through these figures & whilst I can't recall the exact info, I know it was a small handful of cases & some with a really tenuous link - I remember one patient "might have had contact with a pet rabbit in the week before getting ill". I imagine you & your husbands health has taken a battering as you respond to the grief of losing a loved one. I hope you feel better soon

 

[Mmv1291]

thank you very much