Mycobacterial Infections in Rabbits: From the Wild to the Laboratory

Abstract

Tuberculous mycobacterial diseases such as leprosy and tuberculosis are ancient diseases that currently continue threatening human health in some countries. Non-tuberculous mycobacterial (NTM) infections cause a series of well-defined pathological entities, as well as some opportunistic diseases that have also increased worldwide, being more common among immunocompromised patients but rising also in immunocompetent individuals. Reports on natural infections by mycobacteria in rabbits are scarce and mainly involve NTM such as Mycobacterium avium subsp. avium in pigmy rabbits in the United States and Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis in wild rabbits in Europe. Rabbits have been used as laboratory animals through the years, both to generate immunological reagents and as infection models. Mycobacterial infection models have been developed in this animal species showing different susceptibility patterns to mycobacteria in laboratory conditions. The latent tuberculosis model and the cavitary tuberculosis model have been widely used to elucidate pathogenic mechanisms and to evaluate chemotherapy and vaccination strategies. Rabbits have also been used as bovine paratuberculosis infection models. This review aimed to gather both wildlife and experimental infection data on mycobacteriosis in rabbits to assess their role in the spread of these infections as well as their potential use in the experimental study of mycobacterial pathogenesis and treatment.

Assessment of listing and categorisation of animal diseases within the framework of the Animal Health Law (Regulation (EU) No 2016/429): bovine tuberculosis

“…Badgers (Corner et al., , ; Lesellier et al., ), deer (Griffin et al., ; Palmer et al., ), wild boar (Garrido et al., ), rabbits (Arrazuria et al., ), ferrets (Qureshi et al., ; Cross et al., ) and possums (Ramsey et al., ; Tompkins et al., ). Little is known about the susceptibility of birds to M. bovis although they are generally thought to be resistant.…”

“…Parameter 3 -Experimentally susceptible wildlife species (or family/orders) Badgers (Corner et al, 2007(Corner et al, , 2008Lesellier et al, 2009), deer Palmer et al, 2002), wild boar (Garrido et al, 2011), rabbits (Arrazuria et al, 2017), ferrets (Qureshi et al, 1999;Cross et al, 2000) and possums Tompkins et al, 2009). Little is known about the susceptibility of birds to M. bovis although they are generally thought to be resistant.…”

Tuberculosis outbreak caused byMycobacterium capraein a rabbit farm in Spain

“…Although rabbits ( Oryctolagus cuniculus ) have been extensively and successfully used as models for the study of different types of TB, natural infection with mycobacteria seems to be very rare and almost limited to non‐tuberculous mycobacteria like M . avium subspecies (Arrazuria, Juste, & Elguezabal, ). Reports on naturally occurring MTBC infection in rabbits are restricted to one wild animal from New Zealand with generalized TB due to M .…”

“…bovis culture obtained from a skin lesion on the neck of a rabbit in Ireland (Delahay, De Leeuw, Barlow, Clifton‐Hadley, & Cheeseman, ). Several studies searched for MTBC in wild rabbits but failed to detect it (Arrazuria et al, ; Coleman & Cooke, ; Little, Swan, Thompson, & Wilesmith, ; Matos et al, ). As a result of lacking evidence of natural TB in rabbits, some authors suggested that rabbits could exhibit some resistance to M .…”

“…As a result of lacking evidence of natural TB in rabbits, some authors suggested that rabbits could exhibit some resistance to M . bovis infection or have some kind of behaviour‐associated protection from getting infected (Arrazuria et al, ). Resistance to M .…”