If you are a homesteader, hobby farmer, have a farmette or are thinking about raising rabbits, then you may be wondering if wild bunnies carry disease.
Heck, if you’re in the suburbs and see wild bunnies in your backyard, then you may be wondering if they carry diseases.
Yes, wild bunnies can carry several diseases that may spread to humans or to other rabbits. And yes, wild bunnies may carry diseases that are transmittable to your homestead or pet rabbits.
The biggest risks for wild rabbits transmitting diseases to a human occurs when a human handles a wild rabbit.
The biggest risks for wild rabbits transmitting diseases to your homestead or pet rabbits occur when:
- Diseased rabbit physically interacts with healthy rabbit
- Diseased rabbit eats or drinks from healthy rabbits food or water source
- Diseased rabbit spends time on the same ground as healthy rabbit
We cover all the rabbit disease details below!!!
Rabbits are very clean animals. There is very little chance that a domestic rabbit will transmit a disease to a human. It is possible, but very unlikely, that a wild rabbit may spread a disease to a human.
Rabbits generally are not prone to carry and spread diseases like mice and rats. Additionally, rabbits are not likely to spread infestations like mites or fleas to your dog or cat. Actually, your dog or cat is way more likely to spread mites or fleas to your rabbit.
Guinea pigs can catch a serious bacteria based disease from rabbits who carry the specific bacteria, so it is wise to keep your guinea pigs and rabbits separated.
Zoonotic Disease In Rabbits
Zoonotic diseases, also known as zoonoses, are caused by germs that transmit or spread between animals and people. A Zoonotic is an infectious disease that is transmitted between species from animals to humans.
Zoonotic diseases carried by some rabbits include: pasteurellosis, ringworm, mycobacteriosis, cryptosporidiosis and external parasites.
Ringworm In Rabbits – Dermatophytosis is a fungal skin infection known as ringworm. It usually manifests itself as scaly round areas of hair loss. Ringworm is transmitted by skin to skin contact. Most commonly, ringworm is transmitted by handling an infected rabbit.
Rabbits With Mites and Other External Parasites
Mites in Rabbits – Cheyletiella parasitovorax and related species of non-borrowing skin mites may be transmitted to other rabbits and to humans. Most commonly, the mites are transmitted by handling the rabbits or their bedding.
Additionally, fleas, ticks and lice may be transmitted from rabbit to rabbit and from rabbit to human. Most commonly, the external parasites are transmitted by handling the rabbits or their bedding.
Rabbits with Intestinal Infections
Cryptosporidiosis is an intestinal infection that is protozoal based. It is acquired by contact with and accidental ingestion of fecal material from infected animals. Most often a rabbit with this intestinal affliction will have diarrhea, but some infected rabbits will not show any symptoms. Any rabbit with diarrhea should be considered for a zoonotic disease. In people, symptoms of zoonotic disease include stomach pain, fever and diarrhea.
Tularemia in Rabbits
Tularemia is also known as rabbit fever. It is caused by a bacteria that causes ulcers and swollen lymph glands. In strong cases of tularemia, the bacteria can cause pneumonia in the rabbits lungs. Other small pets, such as cats and hamsters, can catch and spread tularemia. Tularemia is most often spread when coming into contact with an infected animal.
Salmonella in Rabbits
Although rare, it is possible for rabbits to harbor and transmit Salmonella bacteria. The salmonella bacteria cause an infection that makes animals and people very ill, including diarrhea which can quickly lead to dehydration and worse.
Rabies In Rabbits
Yes rabbits, like most mammals, can have rabies. There is not a rabbit vaccine for rabies, so once a rabbit has the rabies virus, it will eventually die.
Further, an infected rabbit can pass on the rabies virus to humans and other animals.
For more on rabies in rabbits please visit Can Rabbits Have Rabies
What is Rabbit E. Cuniculi?
E. cuniculi – (Encephalitozoon cuniculi) E. cuniculi is a fungal infection in rabbits. It is a fungal parasite that can impact rabbit eyesight, nervous system, kidneys, brain and heart. About 6% of rabbits will not be able to fight off the parasite. If the parasite is able to take up residence in the rabbit it will experience severe nerve damage. Eventually, a rabbit’s hind legs become less mobile and may become paralyzed. This results in immobility when peeing and Wet Tail is likely to develop.
Note that E. cuniculi is spread by fungal spores that are released in the rabbit’s pee. If a rabbit inhales or ingests the spores then it may become infected.
Tetanus In Rabbits
Rabbits can contract tetanus. Although not much case documentation is available regarding tetanus in rabbits.
When I was growing up, my parents referred to tetanus as “Lock Jaw”. This Veterinary Partners reference also refers to it as “Lock Jaw” and explains that, “Tetanus is a disease caused by a toxin secreted by a bacteriium known as clostridium tetani, one of the many toxin-secreting Clostridia.”
Humans in the first world receive Tetanus shots to protect against this disease, but rabbits and other animals around the world do not.
Myxomatosis In Rabbits
Caused by the myxoma virus which is most often transmitted from rabbit to rabbit by bites from mosquitos, flies, fur mites and fleas. Myxomatosis has a 99% mortality rate in rabbits. There is no treatment and no vaccine in the USA.
The Myxomatosis virus will not replicate in humans. Myxomatosis is Not a zoonotic disease.
Symptoms of Myxomatosis in rabbits are: puffy eyelids, followed by a nasty conjunctivitis and lethargy. Swelling can progress to around the eyes and ears, and to the genital region. Further spread of the virus in a rabbit can lead to trouble breathing, fever, and development of skin tumors. The rabbit expires within 2 weeks of infection. A myxomatosis rabbit vaccine is available in some countries. Currently the vaccine is not legal in the United States.
The House Rabbit Society maintains some of the best information about Myxomatosis and its status.
Viral Hemorrhagic Disease In Rabbits
Viral hemorrhagic disease if referred to by various names such as rabbit calicivirus (RCV), rabbit hemorrhagic disease (RHD) and viral hemorrhagic disease (VHD).
Rabbits can die very quickly from VHD and with little or no symptoms. When symptomatic, rabbits present as lethargic, fever, and weak. Observations may include convulsions, coma, difficulty breathing, foaming at the mouth or even bloody discharge from the nose.
The VHD will not replicate in humans. VHD is Not a zoonotic disease. VHD is also known as Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease virus or RHDV.
In 2021, the U.S. Department of Agriculture authorized use of some RHDV vaccines in the United States. As of 2022, there are only two vaccines authorized in the United States. They are FILAVAC and ERAVAC.
As of 2022, a veterinarian office in Middletown, CT was charging $180 for both doses of the vaccine and microchip identification.
According to the Florida Dept of Agriculture the FILAVAC vaccine protects against both strains RHDVa and RHDV2. The ERAVAC vaccine protects only against RHDV2.
The House Rabbit Society maintains some of the best information about RHDV and RHDV2 at their RHDV Resource Center.
Snuffles In Rabbits
A rabbit with a runny nose or weepy eyes may be sick with what is commonly called snuffles. Snuffles is a bacterial infection in the rabbit’s nasal sinuses (nose) or tear ducts. The bacteria involved are usually pasteurella or staphylococcus but, there are several other strains that may cause this widespread and troublesome respiratory infection.
Snuffles is a common infection in rabbits that may include blocked tear ducts and may progress to cause bronchitis or pneumonia.
For more on Snuffles, please see our article Why Does My Rabbit Have A Runny Nose
What Are The Most Dangerous Rabbit Diseases?
The most dangerous, contagious rabbit diseases are Tularemia, E. Cuniculi and RHDV and RHDV2. These diseases are reviewed above.
How To Prevent Transmission Of Diseases From Rabbit to Human
Typically, there is very little risk of catching a disease from your rabbit. However, if you or someone in your immediate family is immunocompromised, then you should consider taking some steps to prevent the potential spread of disease.
Basic hygiene procedures will effectively protect against the great majority of transmission risks. Here are the hygiene guidelines to practice so that you don’t catch something from a wild bunny or one of your sick rabbits.
- Do not eat, drink, apply cosmetics or use tobacco products while handling animals or in animal housing areas.
- Handle animals safely to avoid bites and scratches. Thoroughly wash any bite and scratch wounds and report injuries.
- Wear gloves when handling ill animals, animal tissues, body fluids and waste and wash hands after contact.
- Wear respiratory protection when appropriate.
- Wear dedicated protective clothing such as a long-sleeved lab coat or coveralls when handling animals. Launder the soiled clothing separate from your personal clothes and preferably at the animal facility.
- Report ill animals so that they can receive prompt veterinary care.
- Keep animal areas clean and disinfect equipment after using it on animals or in animal areas.
Frequently Asked Questions Related To Do Wild Rabbits Carry Diseases?
Can Wild Rabbits Spread Disease To Dogs?
Yes, a wild rabbit can spread some diseases to dogs.
Dogs can receive both tetanus and rabies from rabbits. We understand that in the USA, almost all dogs are vaccinated for tetanus.
Can Wild Rabbits Spread Disease To Humans?
Yes, a wild rabbit can spread some diseases to humans. The Zoonotic diseases discussed in this article are the diseases that can be spread from rabbits to humans.
Here is an interesting and informative video about Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease (RHDV)
Final Thoughts on Do Wild Bunnies Carry Disease
Can Wild Rabbits Carry Disease? Yes.
What Disease Do Wild Rabbits Carry? Wild rabbits may, say again may, carry several diseases. The most severe diseases range from rabies, Myxomatosis, E. Cuniculi, and Tularemia, to the various Viral Hemorrhagic Diseases.
If you suspect that any disease is present in any of your rabbits, then we recommend you contact your rabbit savvy veterinarian as soon as possible.
Some zoonotic rabbit diseases such as rabies may be passed to and infect humans, while other diseases such as Myxomatosis and the RHDV strains are not zoonotic and therefore will not infect humans.
To prevent the spread of disease from rabbit to rabbit or from rabbit to human, we promote the best practices of pet and human hygiene. Additionally, we always urge owners to visit with their rabbits every day and conduct a quick hygiene and health check.
Observing your rabbits helps you bond with them, care for them better and spot symptoms early in the disease progression.