8 week old rabbits dying

[northernnevadahollandlops]

I had a friend recently go through something similar where her older babies were dying and it turned out to be a bad batch of pellets.

 

[Susie]

I had a friend recently go through something similar where her older babies were dying and it turned out to be a bad batch of pellets.

That is what I thought as my delivery had arrived with their food. The mum has died this morning.
she had a piece of kale in her mouth also her babies had pellets in their mouths. The people visited me and said it is E Cuniculi because of the bright blue markings in the iris

 

[Susie]

This is not E. cuniculi. It sounds almost certain to be RHD2 virus. Unfortunately there is no cure, but there is a vaccine and it is recommended all rabbits in the UK are vaccinated against it as the virus is endemic in ALL of the UK, and has a reservoir of infection in the wild population.

This is an excellent resource about the virus, written by a (retired) vet
Rabbit haemorrhagic disease — Frances Harcourt-Brown

There are no signs of blood anywhere. The poop and wee looked normal.

 

[MsTemeraire]

There are no signs of blood anywhere. The poop and wee looked normal.

RHD2 doesn't always show hemorrhage; that's more of a RHD1 symptom.

 

[MsTemeraire]

That is what I thought as my delivery had arrived with their food. The mum has died this morning.
she had a piece of kale in her mouth also her babies had pellets in their mouths. The people visited me and said it is E Cuniculi because of the bright blue markings in the iris

It's highly unlikely to be EC if you've lost the adults as well. Also, EC rarely kills - and not instantly with no other symptoms.

Not to doubt your vets, but there are not many vets with in-depth knowledge of rabbits. I am very surprised they've not mentioned RHD2... the disease is all over the UK from the Shetlands to the Scilly Isles. If your rabbits were not vaccinated, then that is the most likely cause.
I have had experience of both EC and RHD2.

Some further reading on EC:

https://www.rvc.ac.uk/small-animal-...act-files/encephalitozoon-cuniculi-in-rabbits
Medirabbit
http://www.medirabbit.com/EN/Neurology/Paper/fenbendazole.pdf
E. cuniculi (Encephalitozoon cuniculi)

Bad pellet batches are uncommon in the UK due to so few manufacturers, and those who do manufacture them have a large share of the market so other people would be reporting the same. Just out of interest, which brand were you using?

 

[Susie]

This is not E. cuniculi. It sounds almost certain to be RHD2 virus. Unfortunately there is no cure, but there is a vaccine and it is recommended all rabbits in the UK are vaccinated against it as the virus is endemic in ALL of the UK, and has a reservoir of infection in the wild population.

This is an excellent resource about the virus, written by a (retired) vet
Rabbit haemorrhagic disease — Frances Harcourt-Brown

Mum has now passed. Absolutely devastated. I bought her off a show breeder in February. When a practice vet said it was Ec because of the blue speck in her eye. In less than two weeks I have lost 14. I am absolutely broken

 

[MsTemeraire]

Mum has now passed. Absolutely devastated. I bought her off a show breeder in February. When a practice vet said it was Ec because of the blue speck in her eye. In less than two weeks I have lost 14. I am absolutely broken

I'm so sorry.
I'm afraid your vet has made a mistake. This can only be RHD2.
They could have had EC as well, but RHD2 is a silent killer.

 

[Amy90]

Ive lost 14 rabbits in 5 days, the mum, dad and 12 babies

 

[MsTemeraire]

Ive lost 14 rabbits in 5 days, the mum, dad and 12 babies

I can see you live in the UK - unfortunately it sounds like RVHD2 virus which is endemic in the UK. Were any of them vaccinated?

 

[ladysown]

The sudden loss of your rabbits does NOT sound like cunniculi, it sounds like something more deadly. If you live in North America the RVHD2 virus is making it's rounds. I would STRONGLY suggest you contact a vet and see about getting them tested.

 

[MsTemeraire]

I would STRONGLY suggest you contact a vet and see about getting them tested.

They can only test freshly deceased animals, not live ones.