Mycobacterial Infections in Rabbits: From the Wild to the Laboratory
R Arrazuria1, R A Juste1, N Elguezabal1
1Animal Health Department, NEIKER-Instituto Vasco de Investigación y Desarrollo Agrario, Derio, Bizkaia, Spain.
Abstract:
Tuberculous mycobacterial diseases such as leprosy and tuberculosis are ancient diseases that currently continue threatening human health in some countries. Non-tuberculous mycobacterial (NTM) infections cause a series of well-defined pathological entities, as well as some opportunistic diseases that have also increased worldwide, being more common among immunocompromised patients but rising also in immunocompetent individuals. Reports on natural infections by mycobacteria in rabbits are scarce and mainly involve NTM such as Mycobacterium avium subsp. avium in pigmy rabbits in the United States and Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis in wild rabbits in Europe. Rabbits have been used as laboratory animals through the years, both to generate immunological reagents and as infection models. Mycobacterial infection models have been developed in this animal species showing different susceptibility patterns to mycobacteria in laboratory conditions. The latent tuberculosis model and the cavitary tuberculosis model have been widely used to elucidate pathogenic mechanisms and to evaluate chemotherapy and vaccination strategies. Rabbits have also been used as bovine paratuberculosis infection models. This review aimed to gather both wildlife and experimental infection data on mycobacteriosis in rabbits to assess their role in the spread of these infections as well as their potential use in the experimental study of mycobacterial pathogenesis and treatment.
Insights
Mycobacterial infections, including tuberculosis and non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM), affect rabbits naturally and experimentally. This review synthesizes data on rabbit mycobacteriosis, highlighting their role in disease spread and use as infection models.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Medicine
- Infectious Diseases
- Animal Models
Background:
- Tuberculosis and non-tuberculous mycobacterial (NTM) diseases remain significant global health threats.
- While human infections are well-documented, natural mycobacterial infections in rabbits are infrequently reported.
- Rabbits are increasingly recognized for their utility as experimental models for various mycobacterial diseases.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compile and analyze existing data on mycobacteriosis in both wild and experimentally infected rabbits.
- To evaluate the significance of rabbits in the epidemiology and transmission of mycobacterial infections.
- To assess the suitability and application of rabbits as animal models for studying mycobacterial pathogenesis and treatment.
Main Methods:
- Comprehensive literature review of published studies on mycobacterial infections in rabbits.
- Analysis of reported cases of natural infections in wild rabbit populations.
- Examination of experimental studies utilizing rabbits as models for tuberculosis and paratuberculosis.
Main Results:
- Natural infections in rabbits primarily involve non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM), such as Mycobacterium avium.
- Experimental models in rabbits have been established for tuberculosis and bovine paratuberculosis.
- Rabbits exhibit varying susceptibility to different mycobacterial species under laboratory conditions.
Conclusions:
- Rabbits can serve as reservoirs and potential spreaders of mycobacterial infections in wildlife.
- Established rabbit models are valuable for investigating mycobacterial pathogenesis, chemotherapy, and vaccine development.
- Further research is warranted to fully understand the role of rabbits in mycobacterial disease ecology and control.
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