VHD Fact Sheet

• Known as RCD (Rabbit Calicivirus Disease) or VHD (Viral Hemorrhagic Disease)
• It is a highly infectious viral disease that can infect domestic rabbits.
• It is not known to effect humans or other animals, including cottontails and jackrabbits.

• The incubation period is approximately 24 to 48 hours after exposure.

• This virus can be transmitted by contact with infected rabbits, rabbit products (including pelts and carcasses), contaminated clothing, cages, and feeders.
• Infected rabbits that may recover become carriers and can shed virus for at least 4 weeks.
• The virus can survive on inanimate objects for up to 3 weeks.

Symptoms:

Young and adult rabbits can die suddenly within 6 - 24 hours of onset of fever with few clinical signs.

• high temperature (2-4 degrees over the normal temp)
• difficulty breathing, lethargy, lack of appetite
• bleeding from nose/rectum/mouth
• foamy nasal discharge
• neurologic signs (excitement, lack of coordination, and abnormal head position due to spasms of neck muscles.)
• The virus can damage the liver, intestines, lymphatic tissue and causes terminal massive blood clots.

• There is no treatment currently available; death rate can range from 50 - 100 percent in exposed rabbits.

• There is currently no vaccine legally available in the United States.
• Be cautious and quarantine new rabbits and rabbits coming back from shows for at least 5 days.
• If exposure to the virus is suspected, thoroughly clean then disinfect all housing and equipment.

• A solution of 10-percent household bleach (exposed a minimum of 10 minutes)
• 2-percent 1 Stroke Environ (Steris Corporation, St. Louis, Missouri)
• 0.5-percent sodium

If you suspect RCD/VHD:

• A necropsy should be done on any rabbit that dies suspiciously or showed RCD clinical signs.

• Veterinarians and rabbit owners who suspect that a rabbit has this virus should immediately contact their MA State Veterinarian, Lorraine O'Connor at 617-727-3018 or Federal animal health authorities.