Symptoms and Prevention and Treatment Methods of Rabbit Treponematosis

Pathogen Rabbit Treponema is a slender spiral-shaped microorganism, Gram-negative, but stains poorly. Fixing smears of exudate or lymph from the affected area and staining with Giemsa gives good results. Tissue sections can be stained using the Warthin method. Dark-field microscopy can clearly observe the morphology and movement of Treponema, thus allowing a definitive diagnosis of the disease.

Epidemic characteristics This disease occurs only in domestic rabbits and wild rabbits, and the pathogen mainly exists in the tissues of the affected area. Contaminated bedding, equipment, and feed are the media of transmission. It is mainly transmitted through the genital tract during mating, so it is mostly seen in adult rabbits, and very rarely in young rabbits. The incidence rate in breeding-age female rabbits is higher than in male rabbits, and the incidence rate in @#@248@#@ rabbits is higher than in caged rabbits. When this disease spreads within a rabbit population, the incidence rate is high, but almost none die.

Symptoms and pathological changes The incubation period is 2 to 10 weeks. After onset, it follows a chronic course and can last for several months. There are no obvious systemic symptoms, only local lesions are seen. Initially, the skin of the glans, prepuce, and scrotum of male rabbits, and the skin and mucous membranes of the labia and anus of female rabbits become red and swollen, and millet-sized nodules form. Later, the nodules and swollen areas become moist, with mucopurulent discharge that forms brown scabs. When the scabs are peeled off, a slightly sunken ulcer surface can be seen, with uneven edges, and it bleeds easily. Due to scratching, diseased rabbits can carry the pathogen from the secretions of the affected area to other parts such as the nose, eyelids, lips, and claws. In chronic cases, the affected area appears dry and scaly, slightly raised, and the testicles may also have necrotic foci. The inguinal and popliteal lymph nodes are often enlarged. This disease has little effect on the sexual desire of rabbits, but female rabbits lose the ability to mate, the conception rate decreases, and the offspring born have poor viability. Diagnosis A preliminary diagnosis of this disease can be made from the typical lesions of the external genitalia, but a definitive diagnosis should be based on the detection of the pathogen.

Prevention and treatment Strictly prevent the introduction of diseased rabbits, and strictly prohibit the use of diseased rabbits or suspected diseased rabbits for breeding. After diseased rabbits are found, they should be treated or culled promptly, and contaminated materials should be thoroughly cleaned. Use 1% to 2% caustic soda water or 2% to 3% Lysol to disinfect rabbit cages and equipment, etc. In the early stage of the disease in rabbits, neoarsphenamine (914) can be prepared as a 5% solution with sterilized distilled water and injected intravenously at 40 to 60 mg per kg of body weight, and if necessary, repeated once after 2 weeks. At the same time, use penicillin at 500,000 units daily, divided into 2 intramuscular injections, for 5 consecutive days. For local lesions, rinse clean with 0.1% potassium permanganate solution or 2% boric acid solution, then apply iodine glycerin or penicillin ointment.