Question Re: Myxamatosis.....

[Lydia]

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Hi, I've probably spelt myxamatosis wrong,but, when I was a kid ( 20 - 30 yrs ago :- " ).The rabbits that I saw with myxie,were always huddled up and blind.There eyes would be open,but completely white,no visible iris etc.It was very easy to just walk up to them and dispatch them.

On our local hill at the mo,the rabbits are very ill.I assumed it was myxie, and it was when I was showing one to Stu,I realised the eyes were tightly shut (not open),had a virulent discharge and the eyelids are very swollen.

The rabbits are still easy to catch,you can just walk up to them and pick them up,but is this myxie,either a mutated form or early stages,or something completely different?

Thanking you all in advance :thumbsup:

lyd

 

[Rae]

Hiya Lydia,

It does sound like myxi. There have been various strains over the years as the bunnies eventually get immune to one strain so it develops. Approx only 30% of the wild population survives a myxi outbreak, adn they are usually the young ones who seem to have some sort of natural immunity.

However, the symptoms are swollen eyes (and genitals if you ever care to look!). it is a really horrible death as they take approx 10 days to either starve or suffocate to death. Much kinder for them to be put out of their misery.

If anyone is terribly interested I have pictures of bunnies with myxi (don't ask...) that I could post.

The only other thing that could affect wild bunnies is VHD - but that would not cause symptons that you have described.

(Rabbits are the one thing I do know a little about! :b )

 

[*Lesley*]

Hi! Where I have my caravan there are loads of rabbits and last year they got mixie( I think), didn't run away as usual and very sore, watery looking bulbous eyes, just laid there very still, looked awful, a few days later there were none to be seen so I think they must have all died from it,it was very sad to see

 

[Mark Roberts]

in a lot of places in Lanashire they have had myxie that many times they are now imune to it, the most they seem to get is slightly sore eyes.

their greatfor training puppies though o

 

[CHRIS DOYLE]

Before you consider dispatching rabbits. be aware that there is informed opinion that some (how many?) rabbits actually recover from the obvious symptoms of the virus. Over time many rabbits have developed the habit of living above ground, therefore minimising the possibility of becoming infected. Again. over time surely it is reasonable to assume that the contamination should not be as virulunt today as it was in the 50s?? LM

 

[Scott Frodsham]

in a lot of places in Lanashire they have had myxie that many times they are now imune to it, the most they seem to get is slightly sore eyes.
their greatfor training puppies though  o

where is Lanashire Mark ? :- "

 

[wild whippies]

I live in Merseyside and it seems there is a really bad outbreak around here. Is it just me or is there a particularly strong strain of the virus at the moment around the rest of the country?

 

[whipowill]

Here in Oz we have had various strains of myxi over the years but recently a new virus called Caleci(have no idea of how to spell it) was released. One was carried by fleas the other by mosquitos MOH tells me. But don't know which was which.

Rabbits along with hare, foxes & deer are not native animals to Australia.

Just a little piece of useless information. Those AKUBRA (the man from snowy river) hats that are so prized & worn by Aussie olympic athletes are made from rabbit fur. It takes several rabbits pelts to make one hat

 

[*Lesley*]

So far when I've away on East coast there are still hundreds of rabbits,

but last year rumour had it that a lot of places, where they are over run with

rabbits they were putting poison down to get the numbers down so it could have

been that rather than mixie.Don't know what the symptoms of poisoning would be.

Can a dog get mixie? :clown:

 

[nigelmcfc]

Haven`t seen any myxie round here yet. The redness around the eyes and discharge is definately myxie. Rabbits do get immune to it over the years and some do recover, I`ve caught rabbits that had bald rings around the eyes where they have had the inflammation.

Myxie is definately spread with human assistance too, I know of a place ( no names or places mentioned) where the landowner has actively had myxied rabbits put down to kill off the resident rabbit population . And they say we are cruel rabbitting and ferreting

Dual standards I say

 

[Mark Roberts]

A farm I have permission on let it down last year but very few got infected as it's been round here a few times I think they are mainly immune, but it's annoying when farmers openly admit to doing it.

 

[nigelmcfc]

The guy in question told us when we called to ask for permission. He told us to f---k off

it`s easier to drop myxied rabbits than have you lot on here. Nice guy -then the neighbouring farmer confirmed that our charming friend had indeed got some myxied rabbits from another farm and dropped them on his land.

Turns out he was an anti too, had banned the beagles from his land. Like I said before dual standards.

 

[Mark Roberts]

I went on one day, called at the farm to let him know i'd just killed a few with Mixy and he said "oh I didn't tell you did I i've put myxi down to get rid of them all" PRICK!

 

[Lydia]

Thanks for the replies everyone,but especially Rae.Yes the genitals were also swollen,and they were all female. For once,rather than be crude,I omitted that part.Also, I wasn't sure that it would be as obvious to anyone who has not kept rabbits as pets.Most peeps can't miss eyes.

The fact that they have not been able to walk/run/move correctly made dispatch seem the kinder option.

for the person who asked if dogs can catch myxie,no they can't .Myxie is transferred from rabbit to rabbit by fleas.Even if your dog catches and kills a bunny with myxie,it will not harm your dog or yourself.This was designed specifically for bunnies.

BTY, may seem obvious,but if any of you have pet rabbits,and you or your dog handle a rabbit with myxie,wash your hands etc. before handling your pet rab.I'd also vaccinate for myxie,just to be sure.

Lyd

 

[whipowill]

Found a website that a bit of info on Myxsie.

It is bascially about rabbits in Oz but does state myxsie originally came from cottontails in the US in the 1930's. The link is below if anyone is interested.

http://rubens.anu.edu.au/student.projects/...ts/biohome.html

 

[June Jonigk]

Hi All

We've had rabbits in our garden with myxi, and they had the symptoms Lyd mentioned. The eyes are tightly closed, and if you try to open them pus runs out - yuk! We've seen young ones still running around though, so maybe they're immune. Our neighbours rabbit caught it too - so I think it's probably rife this year.

Surprised these farmers are admitting to spreading it, as it's against the law, and has been for quite a long time.

Thank goodness it doesn't affect the dogs.

 

[Lydia]

It is very nasty, Lampingman mentioned about Rabbits recovering from Myxie,and I have certainly seen rabbits before with what I would describe as mild Myxie,that are behaving no differently from other rabbits.Maybe it was a case of "early stage of myxie",and over the next few weeks or days,they worsened and died.As their numbers did not appear to diminish though,they did appear to recover from it.

In any community,(in this case burrows),not all of the population is going to catch the disease,some will catch it, but not be as ill as it's neighbour or relative.

When I am on a walk,complete with 5 very keen rabbit hunters/chasers,and a rabbit,that is clearly blind,pus visibly oozing from it's swollen eyelids.Sort of rolls,drags itself in a pitifull fashion,right in front of our feet,so in pain or numbed senses, it is not aware of our prescence,crying a very heart rending cry.I do pick it up,and break it's neck.

If I knew for sure,it would recover,I would leave well alone,but I do feel,it isn't their fault they were born a rabbit,and they do not deserve this suffering,are better off out of it.

Interestingly or sadly,my so called "keen rabbit hunters/chasers", do not try to dispatch them,they'll give them a nudge with their nose.Look at me as if to say, "It's not playing mum, you make it run" or maybe "That isn't worth chasing".

They are only chasing the ones, who race back to their burrows at the first whiff of danger.

Lyd

 

[Rae]

Ours ignore myxi rabbits too I think you do the right thing by ending their suffering Lydia.

For interest, even Hares can't catch myxi, so Lydia is absolutely right that it can cause no harm to dogs.

Lydia said - some will catch it, but not be as ill as it's neighbour or relative.

Exactly. 3 of my pet rabbits got a-typical myxi 2 years ago (they were vacinated but it doesn't prevent it totally, just lessens the affect) 2 were fine other than a tiny scab on their face but one was very very ill for 10 weeks. He's fine now though

Out of interest do you tend to see more myxi rabs in the summer or winter months?(The myxoma virus which causes the disease is supposed to prefer cold weather...?)

 

[Mark Roberts]

I normaly see more in the winter but thats when i'm out looking for rabbits mainly.

 

[Lydia]

In the winter I walk on Cleeve Common,my dogs actually catch more rabbits in the winter,but I didn't put it down to the rab's having myxie.Cleeve Common is very open,with a lot of gorse.The rabbits can see clearly for miles,as soon as they spot me and dogs they are gone,can't think why...... .A couple of my dogs enter the gorse,the rest wait outside,the ones in the gorse flush the rab's,who are then chased by the waiting dogs.

In the summer, we walk on Notting Hill.Although this is only accross the road from Cleeve Common,the terrain is very different.Not so open,no gorse but really prickly bushes that I think are worse than gorse.My dogs have never caught rab's on this hill until this year.Also, this is the first year that I have witnessed such horrible myxie.

I was hoping by winter it would have run it's course and be over.If it's going to be worse :x , I'm in for some very depressing walks .

Lyd