Evaluating the Clinical and Physiological Effects of Long-Term Ultraviolet B Radiation on Rabbits (Oryctolagus Cuniculus)

The relationship between serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D and parathyroid hormone concentration in assessing vitamin D deficiency in pet rabbits

“…Since then, no papers have introduced PTH assays suitable for rabbit serum. Watson et al (2019) measured rabbit PTH using radioimmunoassay, but neither the details of the assay nor the results related to it were published [ 4 ]. The approximately 3 years delay in PTH analysis of our samples was caused by difficulties in search of a suitable analysis for rabbit serum.…”

Effects of Short-Duration Artificial Ultraviolet B Exposure on 25-Hydroxyvitamin D3 Concentrations in Domestic Rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus)

“…However, current husbandry recommendations for captive domestic rabbits ( Oryctolagus cuniculus ) do not include specific lighting requirements beyond a 12–14 h photoperiod [ 1 , 2 ]. While ambient light in households provides visible light for rabbits, and as endotherms, rabbits do not require special exposure to infrared lighting, recent studies on captive rabbits have demonstrated that artificial ultraviolet B (UVB) light can serve an important role in the endogenous synthesis of vitamin D in these animals [ 3 , 4 ]. In both of these studies, the rabbits were exposed to UVB light for 12 h per day, with Emerson et al [ 3 ] following rabbits over a 14-day trial and Watson et al [ 4 ] over a six-month period.…”

“…While ambient light in households provides visible light for rabbits, and as endotherms, rabbits do not require special exposure to infrared lighting, recent studies on captive rabbits have demonstrated that artificial ultraviolet B (UVB) light can serve an important role in the endogenous synthesis of vitamin D in these animals [ 3 , 4 ]. In both of these studies, the rabbits were exposed to UVB light for 12 h per day, with Emerson et al [ 3 ] following rabbits over a 14-day trial and Watson et al [ 4 ] over a six-month period. The 25-hydroxyvitamin D 3 (25-OHD 3 ) concentrations were significantly higher in the UVB-exposed rabbits following the 14-day exposure [ 3 ], and maintained significantly higher concentrations than the non-UVB-exposed controls over 6 months [ 4 ].…”

“…In both of these studies, the rabbits were exposed to UVB light for 12 h per day, with Emerson et al [ 3 ] following rabbits over a 14-day trial and Watson et al [ 4 ] over a six-month period. The 25-hydroxyvitamin D 3 (25-OHD 3 ) concentrations were significantly higher in the UVB-exposed rabbits following the 14-day exposure [ 3 ], and maintained significantly higher concentrations than the non-UVB-exposed controls over 6 months [ 4 ]. Both studies found that captive rabbits exposed to 12 h/day artificial UVB will direct energies to synthesize 25-OHD 3 , suggesting that UVB exposure should be considered for captive rabbits.…”

“…A similar study was performed on chinchillas ( Chinchilla lanigera ) exposed to 12 h/day of artificial UVB irradiation for 16 days with no reported adverse effects [ 11 ]. A longer-term study evaluating the same artificial UVB exposure in domestic rabbits screened the animals for adverse side effects using ophthalmic examinations performed by a board-certified veterinary ophthalmologist and full necropsies with histopathology and found no abnormalities suggesting any pathology associated with the 12 h/day exposure for 6 months [ 4 ]. While these studies did not demonstrate any negative side effects, their finite follow-up periods suggest more work is needed to further characterize the risk and value of UVB light for captive rabbits.…”