Rabbit Health Monitoring Program
A robust health monitoring program for rabbits is essential to ensure animal welfare, research validity, and compliance with institutional and regulatory guidelines (e.g., CCSEA, AAALAC, FELASA). This program includes daily observations, periodic diagnostics, environmental checks, and recordkeeping, tailored to the specific risks and needs of the facility.
1. Daily Clinical Observation
Performed by animal caretakers or technicians, and includes:
- General appearance: Coat condition, posture, grooming
- Behaviour: Alertness, response to stimuli, aggression or lethargy
- Appetite and hydration: Feed and water intake
- Faecal output: Amount, consistency, and presence of diarrhoea or mucus
- Discharges: Nasal, ocular, or oral discharge
- Respiration: Breathing rate, signs of dyspnoea
- Locomotion: Lameness, head tilt, ataxia
Any abnormal signs are reported to the veterinarian immediately.
2. Weekly Physical Examination
- Body weight monitoring
- Dental check (malocclusion is common in rabbits)
- Ear examination (for mites or crusting)
- Nail and limb inspection
- Perineal region checks for soiling or fly strike (especially in summer)
3. Microbiological Surveillance
Usually conducted quarterly to biannually, depending on facility type (SPF vs. conventional):
Common Pathogens Screened:
| Type | Examples | Detection Method |
| Viruses | Rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV), Myxoma virus | Serology, PCR |
| Bacteria | Pasteurella multocida, Bordetella bronchiseptica, Clostridium spp. | Culture, PCR |
| Parasites | Eimeria spp. (coccidia), ear mites (Psoroptes cuniculi) | Fecal exam, skin scrapings |
- Sentinel animals are not typically used for rabbits due to stress and aggression issues. Instead, direct sampling from selected rabbits is done.
- Faecal screening for intestinal parasites is performed monthly.
4. Environmental Monitoring
We maintain stable and rabbit-appropriate housing conditions.
| Parameter | Frequency | Method |
| Temperature & RH | Daily | Thermo-hygrometer |
| Ammonia levels | Weekly | Ammonia strips |
| Light/dark cycle | Daily | Automated control |
| Noise | Weekly | Auditory check |
| Cage/bedding status | Daily | Visual inspection |
Record: Environmental Conditions Log
5. Quarantine Procedures
- New arrivals undergo a minimum 7-day quarantine.
- Health records from the vendor are reviewed.
- During quarantine:
- Serological tests for RHDV, P. multocida
- Faecal screening for parasites
- Physical examination and weight tracking
- Only rabbits cleared of disease are introduced into the main colony.
6. Euthanasia and Necropsy
- Rabbits found moribund or severely ill are humanely euthanized.
- Post-mortem examination is performed to determine cause of death and detect any underlying infection.
- Tissues may be submitted for histopathology, culture, or PCR.
7. Recordkeeping
- Individual health records for each rabbit
- Daily logbooks for room and environmental monitoring
- Treatment records
- Microbial testing reports
- Quarantine and introduction logs
8. Review and Compliance
- Program is reviewed annually by the attending veterinarian and IAEC.
- Changes in experimental demands or mouse strains
- Updates in FELASA/CCSEA/AAALAC recommendations
- Internal audit findings and IAEC feedback
