Detection of oral papillomatosis in a british rabbit colony

Abstract

Diagnosis was confirmed by the demonstration of cytoplasmic vacuolation and intranuclear inclusions in epithelial cells, and by observing the virus particles themselves by electron microscopy. Lesions persisted for at least 100 weeks.

Viral Infections of Rabbits

“…ROPV is widespread among domestic rabbits in Europe and the Americas, particularly young animals. [135][136][137][138] Lesions typically occur in rabbits between 2 and 18 months of age. The oral papillomas are not highly contagious.…”

Viral diseases of the rabbit

“…The prevalence of oral papillomatosis in the rabbit has been described as ''infrequent.'' The estimated prevalence has been reported to be between 5% and 33% [44][45][46][47]. Infection has been noted most frequently in animals between the ages of 2 months and 2 years [44,46,47].…”

“…Infection with oral papillomavirus is characterized by the development of small (1-2 mm) papillomas that usually occur on the ventral aspect of the tongue, although other locations on the tongue and in the oral cavity have been reported [46][47][48]. One report described lesions that were as large as 10 mm behind the mandibular incisors [45]. Gross lesions have been noted as soon as 14 days after experimental infection and reach their maximal size after approximately 1 month; most lesions begin to regress spontaneously [45,46,48].…”

“…One report described lesions that were as large as 10 mm behind the mandibular incisors [45]. Gross lesions have been noted as soon as 14 days after experimental infection and reach their maximal size after approximately 1 month; most lesions begin to regress spontaneously [45,46,48]. Experimental infection only has been demonstrated when the rabbits were inoculated following artificial damage to the epithelium of the tongue and oral cavity [48].…”

“…Affected animals show few clinical signs and the disease usually is diagnosed incidentally upon finding the characteristic papillomas on the tongue or in the oral cavity during preparation for surgery or during necropsy [45,47]. The absence of obvious clinical signs may account, in part, for the variation in reported prevalence.…”