Rabbit Syphilis

The rabbit syphilis (Syn. Spirochetosis , Treponematose , lat. Spirochaetosis cuniculi ) is a bacterially caused venereal disease in rabbits . The disease is mainly transmitted during mating and is characterized by vesicles and crusts in the genital area. It can be easily treated with antibiotics .

Pathogen

The causative agent of rabbit syphilis is Treponema paraluiscuniculi from the order of the spirochetes . Although it is closely related to Treponema pallidum , the causative agent of syphilis in humans, it does not cause disease in humans or other animals, but is strictly host-specific. In contrast, as was already known in 1928, Treponema pallidum can also be transmitted from humans to rabbits and causes the disease, which was also previously known as "rabbit syphilis". Rabbit syphilis belongs to the group of treponematoses . The disease was first described in 1912, and in 1920 spirochetes were recognized as a trigger.

The infection occurs through contact, especially during mating. Transmission from the mother to the rabbit offspring at birth or while suckling is also possible.

Clinical picture

The incubation period is several weeks or months. Rabbit syphilis (as genital pirochetosis) begins with reddening and swelling of the mucous membrane of the penile foreskin or vagina . Then blisters form , which later burst and become crusts . Secondary infections with pus pathogens (especially staphylococci ), which lead to ulcers and necrosis , are typical .

In dwarf rabbits also a manifestation described in the head. The skin changes on the lips , nose and eyelids can be found here .

The diagnosis is made by detecting the pathogen using dark field microscopy or serology .

therapy

Treponema paraluiscuniculi is sensitive to penicillins and ampicillins . Since penicillins selectively damage the sensitive intestinal flora in rabbits and can lead to a massive increase in anaerobes ( rabbit enterocolitis ), the use of broad spectrum antibiotics such as chloramphenicol or tetracycline is also recommended.

literature

• H. Schall: Rabbits . In: Gabrisch, K., Zwart, P .: Diseases of pets . Hanover: Schlütersche, 6th edition 2005, pp. 13-14. ISBN 3-89993-010-X
• Anja Ewringmann: Key symptoms in rabbits . Stuttgart: Enke Verlag, 2004. ISBN 3-8304-1020-4
• M.Rolle, Anton Mayr: Medical microbiology, infection and epidemic studies . Stuttgart: Enke Verlag, 2002, 7th edition.

Individual evidence

1. ↑ Hans Schlossberger : Experimental investigations on the penetration of the syphilis spirochetes into the central nervous system of mice and rabbits. In: Wilhelm Kolle on the 60th birthday. Works from the State Institute for Experimental Therapy and the Georg Speyer home in Frankfurt a. M., founded by Paul Ehrlich. Issue 21, Jena 1928, pp. 344–353.
2. ↑ D. Šmajs, M. Zobaníková, M. Strouhal, D. Čejková, S. Dugan-Rocha, P. Pospíšilová, SJ Norris, T. Albert, X. Qin, K. Hallsworth-Pepin, C. Buhay, DM Muzny , L. Chen, RA Gibbs, GM Weinstock: Complete genome sequence of Treponema paraluiscuniculi, strain Cuniculi A: the loss of infectivity to humans is associated with genome decay. In: PLOS ONE . Volume 6, number 5, 2011, p. E20415, doi: 10.1371 / journal.pone.0020415 , PMID 21655244 , PMC 3105029 (free full text).
3. ↑ E. Jacobsthal: Investigations on a syphilis-like spontaneous disease of the rabbit (Paralues-cuniculi) . In: Derm Wschr. 1920; 71: 569-571
4. ↑ Franz Neumann: Two cases of original rabbit syphilis that developed spontaneously without infection (genital pirochatosis). In: Zentralblatt für Bakteriologie - Abt. I Orig. - Ref. Volume 90, 1923, pp. 100-105.

This article is about a health issue. It is not used for self-diagnosis and does not replace a diagnosis by a doctor. Please note the information on health issues !