E - Cuni and Scanning question??

I have looked into the E cunli quite closely having a young rabbit with the condition, firstly it seems many rabbits carry E cunli (approx 50% of pets) but never succumb because their health and immune system fight it. One of the symptoms of this illness is Scanning with the eyes. I had never come across this issue until I got the REW lionlop, I found it disturbing, but when I contacted the breeder, she asured me it was common , was fine..and than a number of hers did that. Now I am wondering IF these rabbits (and other people have them too) are carrying the E Cunli, and this scanning is a uncharged symptom.It seems more common in the REW, they are basicly albinos and therefore less robust than other rabbits ....Comments online imply it is a form of focussing because REW bunnies have weaker eyes ?? I dont buy that.
Scanning as never featured in rabbits I had decades ago, even tho I had NZ whites...

I spoke to the breeder I bought the rabbit from (2 in fact one REW one sealpoint dark eyed) the REW was smaller and possibly the runt of the litter, they had no contact with each other or any other rabbit, but she wont have it that the animal came with the disease, despite information saying that urine contact and passing from mother rabbit, is the only way it can be passed.

Wondering if anyone is aware of scanning in their rabbits before the E Cunli erupted, when I first saw it happening my immediate thought was it was a neurological or inner problem...but the breeder was adamant it wasnt a problem...now she has said several of hers have the scanning , I wonder how much E cunli her rabbits are harbouring...but she isnt listening,all she would say is that she cleans and disinfects, she wouldnt accept when I said that fresh urine can carry and so can mothers, no amount of disinfectant will sort that......so now I have a sick baby rabbit a £100 bill, and she is still selling often this illness does not come to light till the animal is stressed, and it bothers me to think buyers make take these rabbits and be totally unaware they are buying a problem which may appear weeks or even months down the line , at which time the breeder can deny all knowledge of it, IF the buyer even connects the two which many people wont...

Rabbits with sight issues such as REW that scan move their head from side to side as they try to focus.

Rabbits with nystagmus caused by EC look very different, the eyes themselves move like they are rolling.

Scanning is something to do with the ways the cones are lined up in the eyes.

Several years ago there were talks by a now retired Rabbit Specialist, Frances Harcourt Brown. Several here attended. She also used to be my vet. One of the lectures was on EC.
At a previous consult we'd discussed Boo scanning & she said she needed some videos of a scanning bunny which I sent. Fast forward months to the EC lecture & in the background is my Boo scanning away - it was on repeat! I had kittens but she (Frances) explained at the begining of her research she had though there was a link between scanning & EC but was no longer of that opinion.

Your bun may have got EC in the womb

As Amy says Nystagmus looks different. I don't think its continuous too (it was in my bunny) whereas you'll just see scanning when bun is checking something out

Yes the nystagmus was continuos in mine too where as my Rews only scan when they are trying to focus on something specific.

I had a bun who was blind - the vet suspected his mum had EC and he was born with a damaged lens. He never had active EC in his lifetime.

Amy104 said:

Rabbits with sight issues such as REW that scan move their head from side to side as they try to focus.

Rabbits with nystagmus caused by EC look very different, the eyes themselves move like they are rolling.

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This is a good summary of my understanding and experience of both REWs and EC. Some other REW / albino animals scan - it isn't uncommon and doesn't appear to cause any other issues. Nystagmus is more like a rapid flickering of the eyeball. Scanning is a slow but noticeable side to side movement of the whole head.

If you are worried about your rabbit having EC, you can ask your vet for a test, and discuss the option of treating all your rabbits with Panacur for 28 days. You would also need to do a full clean and disinfect on days 21 and 28 of the treatment cycle. 10% bleach or steam cleaning of anything that may have come into contact with urine is recommended.

Some other REW / albino animals scan

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Yep, my rats with red based eyes can also scan to varying degrees.