Causes of morbidity and mortality in wild cottontail rabbits in the eastern United States, 2013–2022

Abstract

Interest in causes of mortality of free-ranging, native North American lagomorphs has grown with the emergence of rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus 2 (RHDV2). Over the years 2013–2022, the Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study received 119 Sylvilagus spp. case submissions from the central and eastern United States, comprising 147 rabbits. Most (86%) of these submissions occurred after detecting RHDV2 in the United States in 2020. Laboratory data from these rabbits were retrospectively evaluated for major causes, contributors to mortality, and pathogen detections. Gross and histologic examination was performed for 112 rabbits. Common primary causes of death included trauma ( n = 49), bacterial disease ( n = 31), emaciation ( n = 6), and parasitism ( n = 6). Among the 32 rabbits with bacterial disease, 12 were diagnosed with tularemia and 7 with pasteurellosis. Rabbits with pasteurellosis had disseminated abscessation, septicemia, and/or polyserositis. Less commonly, cutaneous fibroma ( n = 2), notoedric mange ( n = 2), encephalitozoonosis ( n = 2), neoplasia (round-cell sarcoma; n = 1), and congenital abnormalities ( n = 1) were diagnosed. RHDV2 was not detected in 123 rabbits tested. Although RHDV2 has not been detected in wild lagomorphs in the eastern United States, detections in domestic rabbits from the region emphasize the need for continued surveillance. Furthermore, continued surveillance for Francisella tularensis informs public health risk. Overall, increased knowledge of Sylvilagus spp. health furthers our understanding of diseases affecting these important prey and game species.