Coprophagy in the European Rabbit (Oryctolagus Cuniculus) in Australia.

1955 ◽  
Vol 3 (3) ◽  
pp. 336 ◽  
Author(s):  
K Myers
Keyword(s):  
Oryctolagus Cuniculus ◽  
The Other ◽  
Daily Rhythm ◽  
European Rabbit ◽  
Wild Rabbit ◽  
Seasonal Influence ◽  
Feeding Activities ◽  
Below Ground ◽  
Normal Feature ◽  
Daily Period

Coprophagy is a normal feature in the biology of the wild rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) in Australia. The evidence presented shows that coprophagy occurs normally during the daily period of inactivity when rabbits are below ground. When feeding activities commence in the afternoon on the surface, coprophagy ceases. Evidence suggests that the passage of normal pellets continues throughout the night, the formation and ingestion of soft pellets recommencing when the rabbit population as a whole again moves below ground into the warrens, in the early hours of daylight. Kittens commence ingesting soft pellets as soon as they leave the nests to feed on green grass, although suckling continues for some time. There appears to exist a seasonal influence on the normal daily rhythm in eating of faeces. In winter less time is spent in ingesting soft pellets and more in green-feeding than in autumn and spring. It is suggested that coprophagy assumes its greatest importance to the animal during summer when rabbits are below ground for a greater proportion of the day than at any other season. During summer, also, green feed is scarce and the standing pastures are dry. It is evidently during this season that rabbits are forced to obtain from their food all the nutriment possible. Observations show that the switchover from the production of one type of pellet to the other may be either immediate or delayed.

Myxoma virus and rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus 2 coinfection in a European wild rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus algirus), Portugal

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. e001002 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carina Luisa Carvalho ◽  
Fábio Alexandre Abade dos Santos ◽  
Teresa Fagulha ◽  
Paulo Carvalho ◽  
Paula Mendonça ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Disease Virus ◽  
Oryctolagus Cuniculus ◽  
Rare Event ◽  
Myxoma Virus ◽  
European Rabbit ◽  
Wild Rabbit ◽  
Rabbit Haemorrhagic Disease Virus ◽  
Sample Collection ◽  
Rabbit Haemorrhagic Disease ◽  
Haemorrhagic Disease

Myxoma virus (MYXV) and rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus 2 (RHDV2) are two major pathogens that affect the European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus). Between August 2017 and August 2019, 1166 wild rabbits (971 legally hunted and 195 found dead) were tested by PCR-based methods for MYXV and RHDV2 within the scope of an ongoing surveillance programme on wild leporids in Portugal. Despite never having been reported before and being considered a rare event, coinfection by RHDV2 and MYXV was detected in one juvenile wild rabbit found dead in the Évora district located in Alentejo. The relative frequency of coinfection in the group of diseased rabbits (found dead in the field) was 0.52 per cent (1/195). The positivity percentage of each single virus was much higher, namely, 14.36 per cent (28/195) for MYXV and 55.38 per cent (108/195) for RHDV2, within the 2 years of sample collection considered.

Habitat and Warren Utilization by the European Rabbit, Oryctolagus cuniculus (L.),as Determined by Radio-Tracking

1981 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 581 ◽  
Author(s):  
SH Wheeler ◽  
DR King ◽  
MH Robinson
Keyword(s):  
Breeding Season ◽  
Oryctolagus Cuniculus ◽  
European Rabbit ◽  
Native Vegetation ◽  
Radio Tracking ◽  
Radio Transmitters ◽  
Below Ground

'Rabbits equipped with miniature radio transmitters were located when at rest during the day at Cape Naturaliste, W.A. The study site was open pasture with numerous warrens, surrounded by and containing patches of native vegetation in which there were few warrens. Rabbits for instrumentation were live-trapped on the pasture and were located by radio once per day during each of four tracking periods in February, March-April (non-breeding season), May, and June (breeding season). A total of 31 individuals provided 284 locations, 263 (93%) of which were in the scrub. Of 216 locations in the scrub where the position of the rabbit (above or below ground) was known, 164 (765%) were above ground. Individual rabbits were found at several places within their resting areas, some of which were over 100 m into the scrub. The relevance of these results to current methods of rabbit control is discussed.

Coccidiosis in European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus algirus) populations in the Iberian Peninsula

2015 ◽  
Vol 60 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sofia Marques Silva ◽  
Catarina Ferreira ◽  
Joana Paupério ◽  
Rodolfo Miguel Silva ◽  
Paulo Célio Alves ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Iberian Peninsula ◽  
Oryctolagus Cuniculus ◽  
Eimeria Species ◽  
Keystone Species ◽  
Potential Interaction ◽  
European Rabbit ◽  
Wild Rabbit ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Eimeria Spp ◽  
The Impact

AbstractThe European rabbit Oryctolagus cuniculus is a keystone species from the Iberian Peninsula where viral diseases have played a prominent role in regulating their populations. Coccidiosis, a parasitic disease caused primarily by Eimeria spp., is also thought to have important negative effects. However, few studies have investigated the impact of coccidia on wild European rabbit populations on the Iberian Peninsula. Here we estimate coccidian prevalence in rabbit faecal samples collected along transects established in two ecological regions. Six Eimeria species, with different pathogenicity, were identified (E. coecicola, E. perforans, E media, E. magna, E. irresidua and E. flavescens). Species diversity varied significantly between regions although mean oocyst excretion levels were generally low in both areas (57.61 s.d.±78.07 and 17.03 s.d.±27.72, oocyst per gram of rabbit faeces). This study is the first to describe the composition of the Eimeria spp. assemblage for wild rabbit populations on the Iberian Peninsula and provides fundamental information for future studies on the potential interaction of viral and parasitic diseases.

Observations upon some common cestode parasites of the wild rabbit, Oryctolagus cuniculus

Parasitology ◽  
1940 ◽  
Vol 32 (1) ◽  
pp. 78-90 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. M. R. Evans
Keyword(s):  
Intermediate Host ◽  
Oryctolagus Cuniculus ◽  
Wild Rabbit ◽  
Seasonal Fluctuations ◽  
Image Position ◽  
First Time

1. Between November 1936 and February 1937, ninety-six rabbits were examined, whilst between August 1937 and July 1938, 446 rabbits were examined for cestode parasites. The rabbits were obtained from the same area.2. The rabbits were infected with the following cestodes to the extent given, for the two periods respectively:3. Two species of the genus Hymenolepis are recorded for the first time from the rabbit, and they are briefly described.4. The seasonal fluctuations in the incidence of the above cestodes are discussed.5. The span of life of both Cittotaenia pectinata and C. denticulata is seen to be not greater than 10 months, and evidence is given to show that the intermediate host of C. denticulata is available between April and December, and that of C. pectinata from August to April.6. Evidence of host and age resistance is demonstrated in Cysticercus pisiformis.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document