Viral hemorrhagic disease of rabbits is one of the most dangerous diseases, because it is incurable and causes herd mortality of 90-100%, so it is important to know how to recognize the disease, how to prevent and how to stop the epidemic among pets.
Description VGBK
Another name for the disease is hemorrhagic pneumonia or necrotic hepatitis. This is an acute infectious disease characterized by general intoxication of the body, fever, lack of appetite in pets, excitation of the nervous system, bloody discharge from the nose. The causative agent of the disease is an RNA-containing virus. Young adults older than 3 months and adult rabbits are susceptible to the disease. The disease develops rather quickly and does not immediately become noticeable to the farmer. 
Affected lungs and liver in a rabbit in viral hemorrhagic disease. In the post-mortem examination, the organs of the liver, the heart, the kidneys, and the gastrointestinal tract are expelled. Puffiness of organs and leads to the death of the animal.
Sources of illness
VGBK carrier can be both sick animals, and everything that came in contact with them, including humans.
Did you know? The last official case of VGBK infection on the territory of Russia was recorded in 1989 in the Orenburg region.
The main ways of destruction of the body with an RNA-containing virus:
- airborne;
- food (alimentary).
With airborne spread, the virus is transmitted through nasal secretions and during rabbit breathing. At the same time, even the skins are infected with the virus. 
In the alimentary mode of transmission, everything that comes into contact with the patient is infected: bedding, drinkers, feeders, including the feed itself, water, manure, soil, flooring, cages for keeping rabbits, a building, objects in the rabbit.
Contacting items from an infected rabbit core, you and other domestic animals or birds transfer the virus to other, not yet mastered by them places.
We advise you to familiarize yourself with the features of slaughter and rabbit cutting technique.
Form of the disease
The latent period of infection lasts 2-3 days. During this time, the virus manages to completely hit the body. With the super-fast spread of external symptoms will not. On the 4-5th day, dead rabbits will be found in cages. The only external manifestation is that immediately before the death, the rabbit begins to have convulsions.
The main external symptoms in chronic course:
- refusal of food;
- lethargy.
- convulsions;
- squeak;
- drooping of the head;
- bloody nasal discharge.
The rate of spread of the virus makes it impossible to cure the disease. Therefore, vaccination is the only form of protection against VGBK.
Sharp
In the acute course of the UHD, the following manifestations are observed:
- the rabbit loses interest in what is happening;
- refuses to feed;
- clogged in a corner;
- convulsively pulls paws;
- groans, throws back his head.
Important! If the livestock infected with UGBK, then, according to the observations of farmers, the females die first.
Chronic
Chronic form can last up to 10-14 days. Such a course of the disease is possible in rabbits with a strong immune system. The body's fight against the virus slows its spread. At this time, the animal can be irritable, eat poorly and die from internal hemorrhages of the edematous organs.
Treatment
Since the disease proceeds very quickly, the treatment of the diseased is not carried out. Rabbits are disposed of, rabbit is thoroughly disinfected. To prevent infection, it is necessary to carry out timely prevention of the disease.
Carcasses of the dead about the disease of rabbits. The diagnosis is established by a veterinarian on the basis of the mass mortality of rabbits and the pathoanatomical examination of the dead. The farmer must provide the dead animal carcass to the veterinary clinic for examination.
Veterinary service in case of confirmation of the diagnosis:
- announces quarantine zone;
- examines all rabbits in the village;
- kills and utilizes the sick;
- conditionally healthy vaccinates.
That part of the population that is considered conditionally healthy, the subsequent vaccination is carried out at least 1 time in six months. The vaccine is packaged in vials already in ready-to-use form, which is quite convenient if you do vaccinations on your own.
Some diseases of rabbits can be dangerous for humans, therefore we advise you to find out what can be infected from these animals.
Preventive measures
Preventive measures include:
- adherence to the vaccination schedule;
- compliance with quarantine for new animals and individuals after vaccination;
- systematic disinfection of rabbit and disinfection.
Before the onset of the disease
As with all warm-blooded, primary vaccination options can be 3:
- rabbit vaccination during pregnancy;
- vaccine rabbit at the age of more than 1.5 months, but less than 3 months;
- vaccination of adult animals.
Important! If the vaccination is given to an animal with a hidden incubation period of the disease, it will die within 1-4 days. Healthy rabbits can feel general apathy and reduce activity for several days. This condition is normal and does not require additional medical care.The body of a vaccinated rabbit creates immunity, not only for her, but also for the future offspring until the rabbit reaches 2 months of age.
Available vaccines:
- formolvaccine polyvalent;
- 3 types of lyophilized tissue vaccine.
Vaccination of adults is carried out seasonally - in spring and autumn. The injection is done intramuscularly in the thigh.
Newly received animals must be kept in quarantine for 1 month. Quarantine does not allow to identify diseases that are in the incubation period. But it gives the opportunity to prevent infection of your livestock with a possible infection from outside.
After any vaccination, animals are also kept on a 10-day quarantine. This prevents infection during the period before the vaccine is activated.
Did you know? The prototype of vaccination exists in ants. If one ant is infected with spores of a fungus-parasite, then it is not isolated, but a kind of vaccination is carried out by transferring these spores to other individuals. They are not enough to infect, but enough to generate immunity.
After the disease
If there are cases of illness on the farm, conditionally healthy pets receive mandatory vaccination. Rabbits are transferred to a new disinfected room with new cages, drinking bowls, feeding troughs and inventory. The room in which they were disinfected. Disinfection is also required for the car in which the carcasses of dead rabbits were carried. 
Rabbit disinfection measures:
- The litter, manure, inventory, which was used in the infected rabbit, is burned in a biothermal pit (Beccari well).
- The fur is treated with a 2% formaldehyde solution.
- All surfaces are treated with bleach.
- The clothes in which the rabbit has been treated are treated with a chemical solution.
- Stand up in quarantine for 2 weeks before returning the animals back to the premises.
Read about making a rabbit with your own hands.
Can I eat meat after vaccination?
It is believed that UHBV is safe for humans and other animals. But this does not mean that a person or object in contact with an infected rabbit will not become a carrier of the virus. 
The maximum concentration of the virus is in the liver of the deceased rabbit. Therefore, internal organs and paws must be burned. Meat must be subjected to thorough heat treatment. The virus dies at temperatures above 60 degrees in 10 minutes. Eating raw meat is prohibited.
Learn what rabbit meat is good for and how to cook it properly.
Remember that timely vaccination of livestock and adherence to preventive measures will help keep your rabbits healthy. If the animals have had infectious diseases, then their further health depends on the quality of the disinfection of the rabbit and all objects that have been in contact with infected animals.
Reviews
In general, when VGBK, as I already advised the breeders, a clear and uncompromising quarantine ... And if someone rabbits from friends and neighbors died, do not let them into the yard, because they bring the virus to you.
