Pleural effusion disease in rabbits, clinical and post mortem observations

In Denmark and probably in other countries as well, the infectious agent causing intercurrent death of rabbits by passages of Nichols pathogenic Treponema pallidum has been studied in rabbits in the absence of T. pallidum. This agent can be propagated in rabbits at intervals of 2 to 30 days and, depending on the interval between passages and the number of passages, the mortality may vary from zero to almost 70 per cent. Based on the post mortem findings in fatal cases, the name pleural effusion disease is suggested for this rabbit infection. Iridocyclitis, haematological and biochemical changes are signs of the disease not described previously. The source of the infectious agent is discussed.