Studies on viral hemorrhagic disease of Rabbit

Comprehensive studies were carried out to investigate some aspects related to epizootology of severe outbreaks of rabbit haemorrhagic disease ( RHD ) which occurred among non vaccinatedrabbitary farms during the period of 1992 - 1994 . In addition ,investigations covered detection , isolation and identification of thecausative virus , analysis of structural viral proteins and specificity of seperated polypeptides ,as well as pathogenicity and some physical and biological characters of the isolated viruses. These studies revealed the following results: 1- The 25 investwere encountered in cage and floor-raised rabbits in farms and coloniesover 1 month up to 1 year old . They were characterized by variablemortality rates of 10- 56 % at time of laboratory examination. Thedisease mostly assumed a peracute form where mortalities occurredwithout preceding obvious clinical signs . In protracted cases, one ormore SIgnS were observed . Pathognomonic epistaxis was the mostprominent ; other signs included mucous soiled and bloody anus orvagina, cyanosis of lips and nostril, nervous signs including torticollusand/or opisthotonus, ataxia and paralysis particularly of hind limbs and abortion of pregnant females . General signs involved polydipsia ,