MDARD, DNR stress biosecurity to help protect Michigan’s rabbits and hares
The Michigan departments of Agriculture and Rural Development and Natural Resources advise Michiganders to be aware of rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus type 2 (RHDV2), which is a fatal disease for domestic and wild rabbits and hares.
While it has not yet been found in Michigan, the high mortality rates seen with this disease could have serious impacts on the state’s wild and domestic rabbits and hares. It is vital for those who handle, hunt and/or care for rabbits to be aware of this disease and to take precautions to keep the virus away from these animals.
New Case of Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease Confirmed in Texas
AUSTIN Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) has received test results confirming that Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease virus 2 (RHDV2) was diagnosed in a wild black-tailed jackrabbit in Cottle County. This marks the first confirmed cases of RHDV2 in a wild rabbit in Texas in 2021 and follows the discovery of the disease in domestic rabbits in Tom Green County, which was announced in a recent Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC) news release. This is also the first discovery of the disease in a domestic rabbit of 2021.
Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease (RHD) is a highly contagious viral disease that can affect both domestic and wild rabbit species including hares, jackrabbits and cottontails. This disease is nearly always fatal and primarily affects adult rabbits. The viral agent, Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease Virus (RHDV), is a calicivirus with two strains, RHDV1 and RHDV2, both being reported in North America in recent years. RHDV
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Hemorrhagic disease found in wild rabbit in Yellowstone County
BILLINGS – A wild cottontail rabbit in Yellowstone County has tested positive for rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus 2 (RHDV2). This positive result is in addition to four feral domestic rabbits that tested positive in Yellowstone County in February. The four feral rabbits were part of a population of about 40 rabbits, all of which are reported to have died. Another single rabbit later tested positive from an area nearby.
RHDV2 is a highly contagious and fatal disease that affects lagomorphs (hares, rabbits and pikas). Although it is considered a foreign animal disease, RHDV2 has been confirmed in North America in domestic and feral rabbits, as well as wild jackrabbits, hares and cottontails. In the United States, RHDV2 has been detected in Ohio, Washington, New York, Wyoming, Colorado, Utah, Nevada, California, Arizona, New Mexico, Florida, Texas, and most recently, Montana.
New rapid test capability will help monitor fatal rabbit disease
Cheyenne – Wyoming wildlife managers have a new tool to monitor the presence of Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease Virus 2 (RHDV2), a disease that can be fatal in wild and domestic rabbits, hares and pikas. The Wyoming Game and Fish Department’s Wildlife Health Laboratory is now equipped to perform a rapid DNA test that reveals the presence of RHDV2 in tissue samples. The ability to quickly test samples enables Game and Fish and the Wyoming State Veterinarian to learn more about the spread of the disease.
Hank Edwards, Game and Fish Wildlife Health Laboratory supervisor, said that performing the test in-house is an important step for monitoring Wyoming’s rabbit populations health.