Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
Judgement
This depends on the degree and extent of
the lesions as well as on the condition of the carcase.
Animals with mild forms of rhinitis, in good bodily
condition, may be passed for food, while those with
severe forms of pneumonia with fevered carcases and
multiple abscesses must be condemned.
Multiceps serialis
The cystic stage of
Taenia serialis
of the dog is commonly
encountered in the wild rabbit. Cysts are found in the
connective tissue of the lumbar muscles and muscles of
the hindlegs and occasionally at the angle of the jaw.
Judgement
If only one or two cysts are present in the
musculature and the rabbit is well nourished, the affected
portions may be removed and the carcase passed for food.
Spirochaetosis
This is caused by the spirochaete
Treponema cuniculi
. It
is a local infection of vesicles, which become moist, scaly
crusts on the genitalia.
Judgement
In the well-nourished rabbit, removal of
the affected portions is all that is necessary before releas-
ing the carcase for food.
Cysticercus pisiformis
The cystic stage of
Taenia pisiformis
of the dog is encoun-
tered in the peritoneal cavity of the rabbit, especially on
the mesentery, the cysts being up to the size of a pea and
filled with a clear fluid.
Judgement
Their presence rarely has any deleterious
effect on the carcase. Straw-coloured fluid is present in
the above cysts in the early stages, but this usually pro-
gresses to pus formation and cheesy inspissated material
in older lesions, warranting total seizure.
Tyzzer's disease
Tyzzer's disease is an acute contagious disease associated
with a haemorrhagic enteritis and necrosis of the termi-
nal ileum, large intestine and caecum (typhlitis) caused
by
B. piliformis
. Focal necrotic areas may also be found in
the liver and heart.
Judgement
Animals which survive infection are usu-
ally in poor condition and normally merit total seizure.
Zoonoses
Salmonellosis
Salmonellosis occurs occasionally usually due to
Salmonella
typhimurium
. There may be virtually no changes to some
enlargement of the liver and spleen with general carcase
congestion. There is usually no diarrhoea.
Judgement
Condemn.
Myxomatosis
Characteristic signs are conjunctivitis with a clear dis-
charge which becomes purulent; swelling of the eyelids,
base of ears and nose, giving the head a very enlarged
appearance; and swelling of the anus. The oedematous
ears often droop and condition is rapidly lost. The spleen
is enlarged and blackish.
Judgement
Condemn.
Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis (TB) may affect rabbits due to mainly the
avian and bovine types.
Judgement
Condemn.
Coccidiosis
Coccidiosis is one of the most common diseases of
rabbits.
Hepatic coccidiosis is recognised at post-mortem by
the presence of numerous small greyish-white nodules
or cysts in the liver substance which in older lesions may
coalesce to form large cheesy masses. The nodules con-
sist of hypertrophied bile ducts.
Intestinal coccidiosis may show few, if any, lesions at
slaughter, especially in early cases. More advanced cases
have a thickened and pale intestinal wall.
Judgement
If condition is good, carcases may be
passed for food, but emaciated carcases merit total
condemnation.
Pseudotuberculosis
Pseudotuberculosis
is characterised by nodules resem-
bling those of TB in the liver, lungs, spleen and intestines
caused by
Pasteurella pseudotuberculosis
.
Judgement
Condemn.
Listeriosis
Infection with
Listeria
monocytogenes may cause seri-
ous loss of condition. Some rabbits show torticollis. In
addition to the emaciation, there is usually a hepatitis
with the presence of numerous fine necrotic foci in the
parenchyma.
Judgement
Condemn.
Ringworm
The most common form of ringworm is
Trichophyton
mentagrophytes
var. granulare, which can also affect
man. Typical lesions appear on the head and may spread
to other parts of the body.
Taenia taeniaeformis
The intermediate larva form of this cat tapeworm occurs
as a whitish cyst in the rabbit liver.
Judgement
Local trimming or condemnation of the
affected organ is all that is normally required.