Bringing in vaccinated rabbits

[Desert Rose Rabbits]

What are your thoughts? I'm looking for two more does to add to my meat line. I found a breeder, locally, who has Flemish Giant/Black New Zealand mixes. They look good, based on the pictures, she uses Bunny Vac to protect against Pasteurella. However, I know the vaccine is pretty darn new, and it does worry me that she is vaccinating because she might have had problems in the past with pasteurella. This is just an assumption on my part, I haven't contacted her yet.

How do you guys feel about bringing in vaccinated buns? Since this is a killed virus, does this make the vaccinated bunnies carriers? Right now I'm sneeze/snot free, and once I bring in my final two does I plan on closing the rabbitry and 'promoting from within', if you will.

Thoughts?

 

[MamaMandy]

I'd be leery myself. But, then again, I'm pretty much anti vax, all the way around.

 

[Demamma]

Personally I feel Leary of vaccinating. That said I would not be worried about it bringing something in to my rabbitry. From my understanding since it is a killed vaccine it couldn't spread pasturella. Many rabbitry is choosing to vaccinate not to cure or cover up but to protect against.

 

[skysthelimit]

I would be leery as well, but I am anti vac too. The thing about the vaccine, is it has to be given every year, so it may not even pose a problem for you.

 

[Dood]

The killed virus does not make them carriers, even a live virus only gives them a weaker strain of the disease that is not contagious, BUT if she has pasturella in her herd the rabbits could have it but won't show symptoms as they have the antibodies (triggered by the killed vacine) to fight it before it gets too out of control.

As the new buns could be carriers but never show symptoms I would quarantine them with one of your 'disposable' rabbits for 30 days and see if s/he comes down with anything. If so then cull all 3

If you go this route, please keep us updated on the results.

 

[Peach]

That's the tricky thing about the vaccine....i'm sure there are people with good intentions...and the others that will use it to cover up the problem. Maybe just skip getting mixes and get some purebreds from a person with a good reputation?

 

[Dood]

I don't know if the vaccine producers tested in this way before putting it on the market.

If not then collecting anecdotal evidence from people who have added vaccinated rabbits to their herd will help us know if the new rabbits are carriers or not.

 

[Peach]

I'm interested to see if the virus will mutate into something stronger over the next few years.

 

[Dood]

P is highly mutagenic as it is which is why vaccination has taken so long. But it will be interesting to see if the unique markers on the bacteria (i believe there are over known 7 serogroups) that the antibodies in vaccinated rabbits identify in the fatal strains get swapped out for the less dangerous strains that the vaccine doesn't protect against, hence making the less virulent varieties we currently have become deadly and immune to the vaccine.

 

[skysthelimit]

No, but people are using it that way. Someone suggested I use it to treat one of the Angoras. Kind of made no sense.

The vaccine must be given every year, in order to be considered a vaccinated, protected herd. So whatever was done to the rabbit will run it's course. If it checks out in the QT department, great, then the next year it will no longer be considered vaccinated. It will pretty much be the same risk as those of us who take their buns back and forth to shows and expose them to who knows what. The chances of one of my show bunnies being a carrier and passing on P. is probably greater than adding the vaccinated bun to your herd.

When I think about it like that, I'm not so leery anymore.<br /><br />__________ Wed Sep 11, 2013 11:47 am __________<br /><br />

P is highly mutagenic as it is which is why vaccination has taken so long. But it will be interesting to see if the unique markers on the bacteria (i believe there are over known 7 serogroups) that the antibodies in vaccinated rabbits identify in the fatal strains get swapped out for the less dangerous strains that the vaccine doesn't protect against, hence making the less virulent varieties we currently have become deadly and immune to the vaccine.

That is what I am concerned about.

 

[OneAcreFarm]

I'm interested to see if the virus will mutate into something stronger over the next few years.

P is not a virus, it is a bacteria....but it can and does mutate....there are several different strains and the BunnyVac only uses ONE....a bovine strain... :shock:

 

[Peach]

:slap: You're right. It is bacteria.


I feel like it may help for a little while...then not so much in the not too distant future.