MYXAMATOSIS
Myxomatosis (sometimes shortened to "myxi" or "myxo") is a disease which affects rabbits and is caused by the Myxoma virus. It was first observed in Uruguay in laboratory rabbits in the late 19th century. It was introduced into Australia in 1950 in an attempt to control the rabbit population . It was also introduced in the UK to try to reduce the rabbit population after World War II. In rabbits of the genus Sylvilagus (cottontail rabbits), myxomatosis only causes localized skin tumors, but the European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) is more severely affected. At first, normally the disease is visible by lumps (myxomata) and puffiness around the head and genitals. It then may progress to acute conjunctivitis and possibly blindness. The rabbits become listless, lose appetite, and develop a fever. Secondary bacterial infections occur in most cases which cause pneumonia and purulent inflammation of the lungs. In typical cases where the rabbit has no resistance death may take place with frightening rapidity, often in as little as 48 hrs. Death takes an average of 14 days
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Location: Suffolk England UK
Photo credit: © Eugene Kiernan / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: brown, cuniculus, england, european, mixi, myxamatosis, myxo, oryctolagus, rabbit, uk, wild
