Oryctolagus Research Articles

Ultrasound-guided proximal radial, ulnar, median and musculocutaneous (RUMM) nerve block in rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) cadavers: medial vs lateral approach

Ultrasound-guided proximal radial, ulnar, median and musculocutaneous (RUMM) nerve block in rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) cadavers: medial vs lateral approach

Peri-operative analgesia for the pet domestic rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) undergoing elective neutering in the UK – a survey.

Peri-operative analgesia for the pet domestic rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) undergoing elective neutering in the UK – a survey.

Alternating carnivore and Neanderthal activities at Escoural Cave: insights from the taphonomic and machine learning analysis of leporid remains

Exploring the varied subsistence strategies and cave occupation patterns of Neanderthals is key to understanding their complex behaviors and ecological adaptations. Small game consumption, in particular, is considered a relevant indicator of their behavioral complexity. Rabbit assemblages from Pleistocene cave sites provide valuable insights into Neanderthal interactions with small prey and potential competition with carnivores. Here, we present the first detailed taphonomic analysis of faunal remains from Escoural Cave (Portugal), where a European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) assemblage was found alongside Middle Paleolithic stone tools and some macromammal remains. This study combines traditional zooarchaeological and taphonomic analysis of the rabbit remains with multivariate statistics and machine learning methods to establish the origin of the accumulation, and the implications for Neanderthal subsistence and cave use. Results from the taphonomic analysis show no evidence of human consumption but abundant evidence of small terrestrial carnivore activity, primarily from lynxes. This could indicate a sequential occurrence of Neanderthal and carnivore activities in the cave, with Neanderthal activities likely related to something other than rabbit consumption. Our study contributes to characterizing Iberian carnivore fossil accumulations and differentiating between faunal assemblages accumulated by carnivores and those by hominins. Additionally, we show that the use of machine learning analysis provides a robust and objective method for identifying and classifying taphonomic signatures, enhancing the accuracy and reliability of our interpretations. Future work will focus on analyzing additional faunal collections from both past and new excavations at Escoural, to test whether carnivores and Neanderthals focused on different prey types and how they shared the cave space.

Topical effects of cinnamon leaf extract (Cinnamomum burmannii) gel as an incision wound healer in male white rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus)

Topical effects of cinnamon leaf extract (Cinnamomum burmannii) gel as an incision wound healer in male white rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus)

Inconsistencies in the published rabbit ribosomal rRNAs: a proposal for uniformity in sequence and site numbering.

Examination of all publicly available Oryctolagus cuniculus (rabbit) ribosome cryo-EM structures reveals numerous confusing inconsistencies. First, there are a plethora of single nucleotide differences among the various rabbit 28S and 18S rRNA structures. Second, two nucleotides are absent from the NCBI Reference Sequence for the 18S rRNA gene. Moving forward, we propose using the Broad Institute's rabbit whole genome shotgun sequence and numbering to reduce modeling ambiguity and improve consistency between ribosome models.

The Therapeutic and Toxic Effects of Artemisia herba alba Extract on the Reproductive System and Fertility of Male Rabbits Oryctolagus cuniculus

The Therapeutic and Toxic Effects of Artemisia herba alba Extract on the Reproductive System and Fertility of Male Rabbits Oryctolagus cuniculus

Correction: Bilateral pararhinotomy with middle meatal antrostomy of the maxillary sinus in a rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) with chronic rhinitis

Correction: Bilateral pararhinotomy with middle meatal antrostomy of the maxillary sinus in a rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) with chronic rhinitis

Comparative Analysis of Intestinal TLR4 Gene Expression and Functional Verification in Lepus yarkandensis and Oryctolagus cuniculus.

Lepus yarkandensis live year-round in harsh desert environments and are less susceptible to enteritis. The living conditions of Oryctolagus cuniculus in captivity were suitable, but they were highly susceptible to death by Gram-negative bacteria infected with inflammatory bowel disease complex.TLR4 is closely related to the occurrence of enteritis, and the neighbor-joining topology based on the 12S rDNA sequences showed that the relationship between O. cuniculus and L. yarkandensis is as high as 98%.Therefore, we chose O. cuniculus and L. yarkandensis for comparative study.The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) in the regulation of immunity and inflammation in the intestinal tract of L. yarkandensis. In this study, the TLR4 gene was cloned for the first time in the colon of L. yarkandensis. The expression of TLR4 in the intestinal tissues of L. yarkandensis and O. cuniculus was detected by histological observation, real-time fluorescence quantification PCR(qRT-PCR), and protein blotting (Western blot).An LPS-induced cell inflammation model was constructed in vitro, and ELISA was used to examine the effect of pEGFP-N1-TLR4 and siRNA knockout on the anti-inflammatory ability of the TLR4 gene. The results showed that the open reading frame of the L. yarkandensis TLR4 gene was 2520bp in length. Compared with the sequence of O. cuniculus, there were 15 differences in the TLR4 amino acid sequence of L. yarkandensis, 12 of which occurred in the LRR domain and 2 in the TIR domain, and the sequence changed from G to D at position 298. Immunohistochemistry showed that TLR4 was mainly expressed in the epithelial cells of the colon L. yarkandensis, and the expression level of TLR4 in the cecum and colon was significantly lower compared with that of O. cuniculus. qRT-PCR and Western blot results showed that the expression level of TLR4 in the colon of L. yarkandensis was significantly lower than that of O. cuniculus. At the cellular level, ELISA showed that overexpression of the TLR4 protein in L. yarkandensis could reduce the LPS-induced inflammatory response. Therefore, according to the above results, the protein structure and function of L. yarkandensis TLR4 may be different due to the change of nucleotide, which affects its binding with LPS and the activation of downstream molecules, so that L. yarkandensis is not prone to enteritis and can adapt to the harsh desert environment for a long time. This study also laid the foundation for improving the disease resistance of O. cuniculus and promoting the development and utilization of genes in L. yarkandensis.

Therapeutic Potential of the Algerian Ground Nut (Bunium bulbocastanum) Dietary Supplement in the Treatment of Thyroid-induced Dysfunction and Associated Growth Performance and Meat Quality in Rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus)

Background: Both traditional usage and initial scientific findings suggest that Bunium bulbocastanum, commonly known as Talghouda tuber nut, may offer health benefits, particularly for thyroid dysfunction. This study aims to investigate the therapeutic potential of dietary supplementation in managing pharmacologically thyroid-induced dysfunction and its effects on growth performance and meat quality in rabbits. Methods: Thirty 45-day-old male Lionhead rabbits were divided into three groups, each with two subgroups. The Control groups received either a standard diet (C) or a diet supplemented with 35% dried Talghouda (Csup). The Hypothyroid group included rabbits induced with hypothyroidism using carbimazole at a dose of 5 mg/kg BW/day (HytCar) and those subsequently treated with dried Talghouda (HytTal). Similarly, hyperthyroid group comprised rabbits induced with hyperthyroidism using levothyroxine (HyrLevo) and those treated with dried Talghouda (HyrTal). Thyroid function was assessed by measuring serum levels of T3, T4 and TSH. Additionally, growth performance and meat quality parameters were evaluated. Result: Talghouda supplementation significantly influenced thyroid hormone levels in rabbits, elevating T3 and T4 in the hyperthyroid groups (HyrLevo and HyrTal) compared to controls, while suppressing TSH in hyperthyroid groups and elevating it in hypothyroid groups. Talghouda treatment improved growth performance, evidenced by increased weight gain and higher eviscerated carcass weights in the hyperthyroid-treated groups. Meat quality also improved, with favourable pH, dry matter percentage and mineral content observed in the Talghouda-treated hypothyroid group. These findings suggest that Bunium bulbocastanum is a viable natural intervention for managing thyroid dysfunction while maintaining or enhancing growth and meat quality in rabbits, offering promising pharmacological and economic benefits.

Computed tomographic findings of nasal and paranasal disease in domestic rabbits highlight maxillary sinusitis and close association with dental disease: 100 studies (2004-2024).

To describe CT findings and epidemiologic features of nasal and paranasal disease of rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus). An electronic search was performed for rabbits that underwent skull CT from 2004 to 2024 and had findings consistent with nasal/paranasal or maxillary dental disease. History, signalment, and physical examination findings were recorded and reevaluated retrospectively for evidence of changes to the nasal passages, paranasal sinuses, and nearby associated anatomy. Data were analyzed with descriptive statistics, ordinal mixed logistic regression, and correlation analysis. 100 studies from 69 rabbits were reviewed. Lop-eared rabbits represented 30 of 69 cases. Upper respiratory signs (48 of 69 [69.6%]) and dental-related disorders (21 of 69 [31.9%]) were primary complaints. Rhinitis (49 of 69 [71.0%]), sinusitis (50 of 69 [72.5%]), and both (40 of 69 [60.0%]) were most diagnosed, with turbinate destruction (48 of 69 [69.6%]) and alveolar bone loss of adjacent teeth (51 of 69 [73.9%]) being common findings. Sinusitis was most common in the ventral (48 of 50 [96.0%]) and dorsal (33 of 50 [66.0%]) recesses of the maxillary sinus. Multiple CT variables were significantly correlated (P < .05); of those, maxillary alveolar bone loss of the incisor teeth and the second premolar tooth were, respectively, correlated with rhinitis grade and with sinusitis and sinusitis grade within the ventral recess of the maxillary sinus (P < .001). Computed tomographic evaluation allowed characterization of nasal and paranasal disease in rabbits and the association of rhinitis, sinusitis, and dental disease. The correlation between the maxillary dentition, rhinitis, and sinusitis highlights the need for thorough evaluation in CT of the teeth in rabbits with upper respiratory signs.

Impact of ante-mortem fluoxetine administration on estimation of post-mortem interval and insect activity in rabbit carcasses

BackgroundIncreasing the number of drug-related deaths has affected medico-legal death investigations. Drugs within a corpse have a great impact on the insects’ development rate which in turn will affect the rate of post-mortem decomposition and the estimation of the post-mortem interval. This explains the importance of the application of forensic entomotoxicology, which studies the impact of drugs and toxins on the development and succession patterns of insects. The current study aimed to determine the impact of fluoxetine, one of the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), on post-mortem decomposition, insects’ attraction, and its pattern of succession on carcasses. Sixteen healthy male and female Oryctolagus cuniculus rabbits were chosen to be included in this study. They were divided into a treated group of eight rabbits received oral fluoxetine for 28 days and a control group of eight rabbits received oral distilled water for 28 days. After oral administration of 10 mg/kg/day of fluoxetine and distilled water for 28 days, rabbits were sacrificed, and carcasses were transmitted to the roof of Research and Training Centre on Vectors of Diseases at faculty of Sciences, Ain Shams University, for following up the post-mortem decomposition process and insect’s attraction to carcasses for 60 days. Carcasses were put in two outdoor sites that differ in temperature to assess the effect of temperature on decomposition process.ResultsFluoxetine administration has accelerated the rate of post-mortem decomposition in the treated carcasses by 3–9 days compared to the control ones and affected the numbers and species of attracted insects, while it had no effect on the insects’ succession patterns. Exposure of carcasses to direct sunlight has accelerated the rate of decomposition in comparison to that of carcasses put in shade in the overall period of decomposition by about 14 to 16 days.ConclusionsFluoxetine has an important and effective role in post-mortem decomposition and estimation of post-mortem interval (PMI) and has a great impact on attracted insects to the treated carcasses. Temperature has a great effect on the rate of decomposition of carcasses. Higher temperature accelerates the rate of post-mortem decomposition.

Hunting bag statistics of wild mammals in Portugal (1989–2022): on the need to improve data report and compilation

Wildlife monitoring is key for the effective management of natural resources. Hunting-based data (e.g., hunting bag statistics) is an important source of information to overcome the financial constraints imposed to long-term monitoring. Here, taking advantage of three decades (1989–2022) of hunting bag statistics of wild mammals in Portugal, we present the trends and discuss the issues regarding nine game species (five wild ungulates, two carnivores and two lagomorphs). Our results show that hunting bag statistics mirror the general population trends of wild mammal populations at a national scale. The data reflects the increase in number and distribution of roe deer, red deer and wild boar, and the recent expansion experienced by the Egyptian mongoose. The decline in the numbers of European wild rabbit and Iberian hare harvested are also noticeable. Hunting-based data have been used in several research contexts; however, this information is usually affected by geographical, temporal and recording bias. Portugal is no exception. Engaging the interested stakeholders is pivotal to ensure data quality. By reporting reliable and systematically collected hunting data, game managers and wildlife researchers will be able to better understand the main drivers of population dynamics, adjust hunting bags towards sustainable yield and assess the ecological and socio-economic relevance of the hunting sector.

New Insights into Leishmaniasis in Rabbits Raised in the Northeast Region of Brazil.

This study aimed to investigate the occurrence of leishmaniasis in domestic rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) in the state of Sergipe, Brazil, and to evaluate the associated clinical signs. A total of 31 rabbits from urban and rural areas were clinically examined using cytological, immunological, and serological tests. Blood and cytological samples were collected and analysed for the presence of Leishmania parasites and antibodies. Immunochromatographic tests were used to screen for anti-Leishmania antibodies, and cytological analysis of skin lesions was performed to detect the presence of Leishmania amastigotes. Of the rabbits tested, 19.35% were reactive in the anti-Leishmania antibody screening, and 3.33% tested positive for Leishmania amastigotes in skin lesion cytology. Clinical signs included cachexia, lymphadenomegaly, dehydration, apathy, dermatitis, ophthalmopathy, and alopecia. Cytological analysis revealed pyogranulomatous inflammation with Leishmania amastigotes present. The findings suggest that leishmaniasis is present among domestic rabbits in this region CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates the presence of leishmaniasis in domestic rabbits in the Northeast of Brazil. The findings underline the importance of early diagnosis and intervention in preventing the spread of the disease, and highlight the need for further research into the role of rabbits as potential reservoirs of Leishmania.

STAT3 Protein-Protein Interaction Analysis Finds P300 as a Regulator of STAT3 and Histone 3 Lysine 27 Acetylation in Pericytes.

Signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) is a member of the cytoplasmic inducible transcription factors and plays an important role in mediating signals from cytokines, chemokines, and growth factors. We and others have found that STAT3 directly regulates pro-fibrotic signaling in the kidney. The STAT3 protein-protein interaction plays an important role in activating its transcriptional activity. It is necessary to identify these interactions to investigate their function in kidney disease. Here, we investigated the protein-protein interaction among three species to find crucial interactions that can be targeted to alleviate kidney disease. In this study, we examined common protein-protein interactions leading to the activation or downregulation of STAT3 among three different species: humans (Homo sapiens), mice (Mus musculus), and rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus). Further, we chose to investigate the P300 and STAT3 interaction and performed studies of the activation of STAT3 using IL-6 and inhibition of the P300 by its specific inhibitor A-485 in pericytes. Next, we performed immunoprecipitation to confirm whether A-485 inhibits the binding of P300 to STAT3. Using the STRING application from ExPASy, we found that six proteins, including PIAS3, JAK1, JAK2, EGFR, SRC, and EP300, showed highly confident interactions with STAT3 in humans, mice, and rabbits. We also found that IL-6 treatment increased the acetylation of STAT3 and increased histone 3 lysine acetylation (H3K27ac). Furthermore, we found that the disruption of STAT3 and P300 interaction by the P300 inhibitor A-485 decreased STAT3 acetylation and H3K27ac. Finally, we confirmed that the P300 inhibitor A-485 inhibited the binding of STAT3 with P300, which inhibited its transcriptional activity by reducing the expression of Ccnd1 (Cyclin D1). Targeting the P300 protein interaction with STAT3 may alleviate STAT3-mediated fibrotic signaling in humans and other species.

Detection of Mycoplasma sp using next-generation DNA sequencing is common on nasal swabs from both healthy and unhealthy pet rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus).

Upper respiratory infections are a frequent problem in pet rabbits and rodents, and Mycoplasma pulmonis is 1 of the most common causes of respiratory infections in pet rats. M pulmonis was detected in 1967 in laboratory rabbits via culture of the nares and oropharynx, but overall, Mycoplasma is not commonly identified in the upper airway of rabbits. The objective of this study was to compare the prevalence of Mycoplasma sp detection via next-generation DNA sequencing on nasal swabs obtained from healthy and unhealthy rabbits. The results of nasal swabs from both healthy and unhealthy rabbits submitted for next-generation DNA sequencing from January 2022 to February 2023 were reviewed. Data gathered included signalment, whether or not Mycoplasma sp was detected, and the cell count and relative predominance of Mycoplasma sp compared to other organisms. 91 rabbits met the inclusion criteria, of which 49 were healthy and 42 were unhealthy. Overall, 52 of 91 (57.1%) rabbits were positive and 39 of 91 (42.8%) were negative for Mycoplasma sp. Mycoplasma positivity was significantly (P < .001) more common in healthy rabbits (37/49 [75.5%]) compared to unhealthy rabbits (15/42 [35.7%]). The fact that Mycoplasma positivity was common in both groups of rabbits, and particularly common in rabbits without upper respiratory signs, suggests that Mycoplasma may be normal nasal flora in rabbits. Further research is needed to determine whether Mycoplasma could function as an opportunistic pathogen in rabbits.

RHDV2 outbreak reduces survival and juvenile recruitment, causing European rabbit population collapse

AbstractInfectious diseases can cause considerable mortality in vertebrate populations, especially when a new pathogen emerges. Quantifying the impact of diseases on wild populations and dissecting the underlying mechanisms requires longitudinal individual monitoring combining demographic and epidemiologic data. Such longitudinal population studies are rare. Rabbit hemorrhagic disease (RHD) is one of the main causes of the decline in European wild rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) populations. A new genotype of RHD virus (RHDV), called RHDV2 or GI.2, emerged in 2010, posing a new threat to previously weakened populations, particularly as this virus can infect individuals already immune to classical RHDV strains. Taking advantage of intensive monitoring from 2009 to 2014 by physical captures and microchip detections of a semi‐captive population of rabbits, we finely assessed the demographic impact of an initial RHDV2 outbreak that occurred in the population and identified the most affected demographic parameters. A multi‐event modeling analysis revealed decreased survival in both juveniles and adults in 2011 and 2012, suggesting an RHDV2 outbreak for two consecutive years. The short‐term survival benefit of vaccination against classical RHDV strains only during these years, and the recovery of carcasses with RHDV2 detection, supported this hypothesis. Variations in population vaccination coverage also explain the difference in adult survival between the two years of the outbreak. And the transient protective effect of vaccination could explain the prolonged duration of the outbreak. A brief episode of myxomatosis in 2011 seems to have had only a limited impact on the population. During outbreak years, in individuals not recently vaccinated, monthly juvenile survival crashed (0.55), and annual adult survival was three times lower than in normal years (0.21 vs. 0.69). The combination of successive juvenile and adult survival estimates for unvaccinated rabbits during the outbreak years resulted in a very low recruitment rate in the breeding population. Finally, RHDV2 outbreaks appear to have caused mortalities comparable to those caused by older classical RHDV strains and may have a strong demographic impact on wild populations of European rabbit. This work highlights the importance of long‐term observational and experimental studies to better understand the impact of epidemics on animal populations.

A Comparative Study of Large Intestine Histochemical and Histomorphometrical in Sheep (Ovis aries) and Rabbits (Oryctolagus Cuniculus)

A Comparative Study of Large Intestine Histochemical and Histomorphometrical in Sheep (Ovis aries) and Rabbits (Oryctolagus Cuniculus)

Epidemiologic, clinicopathologic, and diagnostic findings in pet rabbits with myxomatosis caused by the California MSW strain of myxoma virus: 11 cases (2022-2023).

To determine epidemiologic features of naturally occurring myxomatosis in domestic rabbits in California and to characterize clinicopathologic and diagnostic findings. 11 client-owned rabbits, Oryctolagus cuniculus subsp domesticus. A prospective study of pet rabbits with myxomatosis seen at an exotic animal specialty clinic in Santa Cruz county, California, was conducted between January 1, 2022, and December 31, 2023. Rabbits were included in the study if they had bilateral blepharedema and were PCR positive for myxoma virus. All infected rabbits had spent time outdoors. Common clinical signs included bilateral blepharedema (11/11), anogenital edema (10/11), rectal temperature ≥ 39.7 °C (5/9), and sudden death (4/11). Eyelid biopsies from all rabbits (11/11) were positive for myxoma virus by qualitative PCR followed by Sanger sequencing (100% nucleotide identity to strain MSW, also known as California/San Francisco 1950 [Genbank accession KF148065]). Most rabbits had keratinocytes containing eosinophilic intracytoplasmic viral inclusions in biopsies of edematous skin (8/11) and lymphocyte necrosis in the spleen (10/11). Immunohistochemistry identified myxoma virus in samples of skin, heart, lung, ileum, spleen, and lymph node. Clinical signs of myxomatosis caused by the MSW strain of myxoma virus are distinctive but subtle. Cases occur regularly in the Santa Cruz and San Jose regions of California. As infection with this virus is almost 100% fatal and no vaccine is available in the US, owners of domestic rabbits in endemic areas should keep their pets indoors or behind mosquito screens. Myxomatosis is a reportable disease in the US, and the appropriate state or federal agencies should be contacted when outbreaks occur.

Zoonotic potential of urban wildlife faeces, assessed through metabarcoding

Monitoring zoonoses in urban environments is of great relevance, where the incidence of certain pathogens may be higher and where population density makes the spread of any contagious disease more likely. In this study we applied a metabarcoding approach to study potentially zoonotic pathogens in faecal samples of 9 urban vertebrate species. We applied this methodology with two objectives. Firstly, to obtain information on potential pathogens present in the urban fauna of a large European city (Madrid, Spain) and to determine which are their main reservoirs. In addition, we tested for differences in the prevalence of these potential pathogens between urban and rural European rabbits, used as ubiquitous species. Additionally, based on the results obtained, we evaluated the effectiveness of metabarcoding as a tool for monitoring potential pathogen. Our results revealed the presence of potentially zoonotic bacterial genera in all studied host species, 10 of these genera with zoonotic species of mandatory monitoring in the European Union. Based on these results, urban birds (especially house sparrows and pigeons) and bats are the species posing the greatest potential risk, with Campylobacter and Listeria genera in birds and of Chlamydia and Vibrio cholerae in bats as most relevant pathogens. This information highlights the risk associated with fresh faeces from urban wildlife. In addition, we detected Campylobacter in >50 % of the urban rabbit samples, while we only detected it in 11 % of the rural rabbit samples. We found that urban rabbits have a higher prevalence of some pathogens relative to rural rabbits, which could indicate increased risk of pathogen transmission to humans. Finally, our results showed that metabarcoding can be an useful tool to quickly obtain a first screening of potentially zoonotic organisms, necessary information to target the monitoring efforts on the most relevant pathogens and host species.

Effect of infestation with Psoroptes cuniculi on reproduction and behavior of obese rabbit does (Oryctolagus cuniculi).

Parasites and obesity are health problems worldwide. Rabbits are production animals yielding one of the healthiest meats, also taking advantage of skin, hair, limbs and excreta. It is among the most frequent pets in some countries and widely used as animal model in research. Psoroptes cuniculi is a mite of high transmission rate, affecting welfare and production and obesity causes multiple metabolic, endocrine and immunological disorders, being an emerging problem in domestic animals. Obesity and acarosis are prolonged stressors, modifying the activity of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis that can induce metabolic and behavioral disorders. Alterations caused by comorbidities could be similar to or different from those induced by each morbidity separately. We analyzed the influence of obesity on the infection degree with P. cuniculi and on behavior and production. Rabbit does induced to obesity were infected and mated; behaviors in the open field test, obesity estimation indices and productive parameters at delivery and weaning were analyzed. The acarosis induced a decrease in feed intake and a decrease in body weight, a decrease in locomotor, exploratory and chinning behaviors in normal weight and obese does. The infection induced 23% mortality at birth, obesity 45% and comorbidity 74%, while in normal weight rabbits a 6.5% was observed. Weight gain from birth to weaning was lower in the comorbid group, reaching a litter weight of 4.5±0.13 kg in healthy normal weight does and 2.6±0.67 kg in comorbid does. The disturbances induced by the comorbidity were magnified in both behavioral and productive parameters.