Intestinal lesions resembling paratuberculosis in a wild rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus)

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Pathology
• Microbiology
• Wildlife Health

Background:

• Farmed red deer in Scotland recently experienced a severe outbreak of paratuberculosis (Johne's disease).
• A feral rabbit colony grazed on the same land used to sustain the infected deer.

Observation:

• One of three feral rabbits examined presented with chronic intestinal lesions.
• These lesions were histologically similar to those seen in paratuberculosis.
• Acid- and alcohol-fast bacteria were detected in tissue samples from the affected rabbit.

Findings:

• No similar lesions were found in 29 other rabbits from the same colony.
• The specific Mycobacterium species could not be identified due to lack of viable culture material.
• The presence of suggestive bacteria indicates a potential, though unconfirmed, link to paratuberculosis.

Implications:

• This finding raises questions about the potential for Mycobacterium transmission between farmed deer and wild rabbit populations.
• Further research is warranted to investigate the role of feral rabbits as potential reservoirs or sentinels for paratuberculosis.
• Understanding interspecies disease dynamics is crucial for managing Johne's disease in livestock and wildlife.