Rabbit in Shelter has E.C. - what are the chances others in shelter have it too?

[HoneyPot]

So a rabbit a few cages away from Oliver at the shelter had E. Cuniculi. They kept the sick bun in the same cage, so I don't think he's been in the sick bunny's cage... but how long should I keep him quarantined to make sure he does not have it?

Or what are the chances that he might have it seeing that he was in the same room etc - it's only passed on through urine is that correct?

I think I may get Oliver tested for E.C before I put him anywhere near my guys...

_____________
Nadia

 

[naturestee]

It really depends- you could ask them about their cleaning procedures, etc. In my local shelter you are supposed to wash your hands between caring for each animal and they have hand sanitizer dispensers in all the rooms.

Also be aware that a large percentage of rabbits do have EC but it never causes a problem for them. I know Julie (Treasured Friend) has one rabbit that was born to the strays she took in that has partial paralysis from EC, but all her siblings, parents,and Julie's other pets and fosters are healthy and show no signs of it. In any case, a two week quarantine period is a good idea for any new animal.

 

[HoneyPot]

Hmm... thanks. It just makes me nervous. I am going to drop by today again to get Oliver some pellets cause they didn't give me any of his regular pellets and he's not eating the Oxbow. I'll ask them about it.

Nadia

 

[Flashy]

Hmm. I think that EC is contagious in the urine for 45 days, I think, and it incubates wherever it stops until the bunnies immune system is lowered (I think this is what I read).

One of mine has/d EC and no one else has any problems at all. He is bonded with his brother and his brother is absolutely fine. It has only struck Sunshine because his immune system was lowered when he had to have an anaesthetic.

So you might be best quarantining your bun for the time that it can still be passed on by urine.

(I'll go and find the length of time now)

 

[Flashy]

Hmm.not sure I liked what I read from this site.

http://www.rabbitwelfare.co.uk/rwf/articles/ecuniculi.htm

Maybe this might help too.

http://www.thebrc.org/health.htm

Oh, and the very trusty RO health bit that I'm sure you've already looked at, lol.

http://www.rabbitsonline.net/view_topic.php?id=14471&forum_id=10

Maybe it's worth treating with something like Panacur (or something else) as a precaution?

 

[ra7751]

Hi,

How do we know the rabbit has EC? The only sure way to know is post mortem.....but there is a blood titer that looks for antibodies. EC is contagious when the spores are shedding and are spread thru contact with an infected rabbit's urine. Apparently it can remain in the environment for quite some time. It can also become airborne. Most every rabbit in the US has been exposed to EC. Only the rabbit's immune system can keep this worm in check. Treatment is difficult since it is a protozoa. Antibiotics and most wormers are totally useless. Some of the "bendazoles" have shown some promise but the most exciting news may be coming from the equine world in the form of a drug known as Marquis.

The early signs of EC are usually a lazy rear leg and unexplained urinary incontinence. The part of the brain affected controls motor sklls to the rear legs. With every EC rabbit we have had, it seems the initial presentation was on the left rear. It was almost like they forgot how to use it and stumble. Eventually the rabbit will become unstable and fall on it's side. The rabbit will many times be wet with urine since the spores damage the kidneys. The urine may also have a rather pronounced odor. As the immune system mounts a counter attack, there will be some correction in the hind quarter paresis and it might appear things are better. But EC is a wasting disease and it will win....usually due to renal collapse. Many of the symptoms that are blamed on EC....actually are not caused by EC but by opportunistic bacteria. Many times the bun will get torticollis (known by some as head tilt and others as wry neck) but these issues are not directly related to the EC. The immune system is so compromised that it attacks the EC and allows the harmful bacteria to grow. We fought ongoing battles against bacterial infections in our EC bunnies.

Truth is, if the rabbit does have a systemic EC infection, the others have already been infected if they weren't before. Just because they have been exposed does not mean they will get an active EC infections. It all depends on how strong the immune system is and how it responds to the EC.

Randy

 

[Bunnicula]

One of our bunnies had some unusual symptoms that we thought could be connected to EC (thanks to Randy for helping me with that one :bouquet. The vet ran a titer, and the results were a strong positive. However, through all my research I've found that those results are not definitive that she HAS an active case. Sounds weird, but so many medical tests aren't definitive...they just guide the drs in a direction for treatment or rule out what it isn't. My understanding is that what the titer is actually telling you is whether or not the rabbit has been exposed to EC. It would appear she has been, but that may or may not ever experience complications from that.

Animals may become carriers for EC but never become ill due to it...yet pass it on to others. I am told that most rabbits with EC were actually infected in infancy by the mothers. When the baby bunny is nursing, he/she is exposed to the spores found in mother's urine.

Anyway, I've also found that the symptoms for our bunny that concerned me (consuming more water than the others, greater urinary output, andocular lesions) could or could not be related to the EC. After consultations with a veterinary opthamologist, they've concluded that her current medical issues are most likely not related to EC.

Our vet has said that we could treat all the bunnies with albendazole as a preventative but as Gingivere is already positive and the others were exposed to her any manifestations of the "disease" would be unavoidable. In other words, the wormer would not change any physical damage that had already occurred to them.

Talk to your vet about the options. My vet was open to allowing me to make the choices about whether to treat with wormer or not.

 

[HoneyPot]

Hmm, thanks so much for the info guys!! I just read on the bunny chart in the room with Oliver that it was being treated for E.C. When I went back today, the girl there told me it didn't have E.C., that particular bun was just old and being treated for a variety or other ailments but nothing contagious that she knew about... and the paper I read it on was gone... so now I don't know if I was making it up. I know I read that though cause I was concerned about it when I saw it. Ah well.

I'll continue to keep and eye on the little guy while I have him in quarantine for the next while. So far he's fine and bouncy.

____________
Nadia