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Rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV), a member of the genus Lagovirus, causes rabbit haemorrhagic disease (RHD), a fatal hepatitis of rabbits, not previously reported in hares. Recently, a new RHDV-related virus emerged, called RHDV2. This lagovirus can cause RHD in rabbits and disease and mortality in Lepus capensis (Cape hare). Here we describe a case of RHDV2 infection in another hare species, Lepus corsicanus, during a concurrent RHD outbreak in a group of wild rabbits. The same RHDV2 strain infected rabbits and a hare, also causing a RHD-like syndrome in the latter. Our findings confirmed the capability of RHDV2 to infect hosts other than rabbits and improve the knowledge about the epidemiology and the host range of this new lagovirus., (Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

By screening rabbits with enterocolitis or enteritis complex and asymptomatic rabbits, we identified a novel astrovirus. The virus was distantly related (19.3%-23.7% aa identity) in the capsid precursor to other mammalian astroviruses within the Mamastrovirus genus. By using real-time reverse transcription PCR, with specific primers and probes and targeting a conserved stretch in open reading frame 1b, we found rabbit astrovirus in 10 (43%) of 23 samples from animals with enteric disease and in 25 (18%) of 139 samples from asymptomatic animals in Italy during 2005-2008. The mean and median titers in the positive animals were 10(2)× and 10(3)× greater, respectively, in the symptomatic animals than in the asymptomatic animals. These findings support the idea that rabbit astroviruses should be included in the diagnostic algorithm of rabbit enteric disease and animal experiments to increase information obtained about their epidemiology and potential pathogenic role.

While dermatophytoses of several animal species have been extensively investigated, information on their occurrence and epidemiology in rabbits is limited. We carried out a study from October 2006 to February 2007 of 23 rabbit farms in Apulia and Basilicata regions (southern Italy) in order to investigate the occurrence and risk factors associated with dermatophytoses in breeding rabbits. Dermatophytes were isolated from 86.9% (20/23) of the farms and from 51.8% (420/810) of the animals sampled. Trichophyton mentagrophytes (47.9%) and Microsporum canis (3.2%) were isolated from diseased (71.7%) and healthy (48.4%) animals as well from the surrounding environment (7.5%). The occurrence of lesions, the age of rabbits, and farm management (e.g., temperature, humidity and methods and frequency of disinfection practices) were identified as the most significant risk factors (P < 0.05) for the occurrence of dermatophytes. Animals in fattening and finishing stages were the most frequently infected (i.e., 58.2 and 61.6% respectively). Dermatophyte prevalence was significantly (P < 0.05) higher in areas with higher temperature (>20°C) and relative humidity ranging from 62-65%. The results of the present investigation suggest that zoonotic dermathophytes are present in rabbit farms and highlight the importance of correct management procedures for the control of the infections.

Size of the removed calculi (D) gl Four uroliths were visualised in the preputial area on radiographs (Fig 1B). A 5-year-old pet rabbit was presented with a large mass in the preputial sac which was painful on palpation. Urolithiasis is a pathological condition which is diagnosed more often in middle-aged and old rabbits. [Extracted from the article]