Apr 9, 2016
Myxomatosis Myxomatosis is a servere viral disease in rabbits that decimated wild UK populations when it was introduced 50 years ago. It isΒ a highly infectious and usually fatal disease, which causes swelling of the mucous membranes and inflammation and discharge around the eyes.
I found this little one sat by the side of the road in my home town, and realised that they were infected when I was able to get within around 30cm of them without detection. The best way to prevent the spread of this disease is to vaccinate, but due to the high breeding rate of Leoprids, and the fact that immunity from vaccination is not vertically inherited, this is not a viable option for the wild population.Β
