Diseases of domestic rabbits by purpose; a retrospective study of 2,583 cases received at 4 diagnostic laboratories in California, USA, 2013-2022

Arturo Oliver-Guimera ¹, Javier Asin ^1,2, Denise M Imai ^1,3

⁰Department of Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA, USA.

Journal of Veterinary Diagnostic Investigation : Official Publication of the American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians, Inc +

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August 5, 2024

View abstract on PubMed

Summary

Disease prevalence in domestic rabbits varies significantly by their purpose. Pet rabbits most often develop neoplasms, while laboratory rabbits suffer from infectious enterotyphlocolitis and meat rabbits experience pneumonia.

Area Of Science

Veterinary Pathology
Comparative Pathology
Animal Health

Background

Domestic rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) serve diverse roles including pets, laboratory animals, and meat/fur production.
Understanding disease patterns based on rabbit usage is crucial for targeted health management and research.
Previous studies have not comprehensively analyzed disease prevalence across different rabbit purposes.

Purpose Of The Study

To retrospectively investigate and compare the prevalence of diseases in domestic rabbits based on their intended purpose.
To identify specific disease patterns associated with pet, laboratory, meat, and multipurpose rabbit populations.
To establish correlations between rabbit usage and common pathologies.

Main Methods

Retrospective analysis of 2,583 diagnostic cases (autopsies, biopsies, cytologies) from four California laboratories (2013-2022).
Classification of rabbits into four groups: pets (86.8%), laboratory (3.6%), meat production (2.3%), and multipurpose (7.4%).
Diagnosis categorization by system, etiology, and type of process to identify prevalent diseases within each group.

Main Results

Neoplasms were most common in pet rabbits (97.3% of all rabbit neoplasms), particularly skin, reproductive tract, and hematolymphoid tumors.
Laboratory rabbits showed a high incidence of infectious enterotyphlocolitis (43.4%), often linked to opportunistic colibacillosis.
Meat rabbits frequently presented with infectious/parasitic pneumonias (30%), predominantly pneumonic pasteurellosis; multipurpose rabbits had high rates of infectious cholangiohepatitis (55.5%), with rabbit hemorrhagic disease as a key cause.

Conclusions

The intended purpose of domestic rabbits is a significant predictor of their disease prevalence and type.
Distinct pathological profiles exist for pet, laboratory, meat, and multipurpose rabbit populations.
These findings highlight the need for purpose-specific veterinary care, disease surveillance, and research strategies in rabbits.

Keywords:

disease laboratory meat multipurpose pet rabbits