1. Disease Explanation: What is Rabbit Viral Hemorrhagic Disease (RHD)?

Rabbit Viral Hemorrhagic Disease (RHD), commonly known as "Rabbit Fever," is an acute, highly contagious, and fatal viral disease affecting domestic and wild rabbits. It is one of the most devastating threats to the rabbit industry worldwide.

Pathogen: Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease Virus (RHDV), belonging to the Caliciviridae family. The virus is notably resistant in the environment but is susceptible to disinfectants like iodine, sodium hydroxide, and formaldehyde.

Key Characteristics:

Peracute Onset: The disease can progress extremely rapidly, with animals dying suddenly without showing clinical signs.

Extremely High Mortality: Mortality rates in susceptible rabbits over two months of age can exceed 90-100%.

Specific Pathogenesis: The virus primarily targets the liver, causing massive necrosis (tissue death). This leads to a systemic hemorrhagic syndrome and disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC), resulting in organ failure and death.

2. Clinical Signs: How to Identify RHD?

Clinical manifestations can be categorized into peracute, acute, and chronic forms.

Peracute Form:

Common at the beginning of an outbreak. Affected rabbits often show no prior symptoms and die suddenly after brief episodes of convulsions, screaming, and agitation. Post-mortem, the body may exhibit opisthotonos (backward arching).

Acute Form (Classic):

Depression: Loss of appetite (anorexia), lethargy.

High Fever: Body temperature can rise above 41°C.

Neurological Signs: Before death, rabbits may show excitement, struggling, frantic running, circling, and muscle tremors.

Respiratory Signs: Difficulty breathing, with a bloody or frothy nasal discharge in some cases.

Key Post-mortem Lesions: These are critical for diagnosis and include:

Widespread Hemorrhages: Diffuse bleeding in the trachea ("red trachea"), pulmonary edema and hemorrhage, an enlarged, friable, and discolored liver, and enlarged spleen and kidneys with pinpoint hemorrhages.

Chronic Form:

Seen in later stages of an outbreak or in young rabbits under two months. Signs include mild fever, depression, and weight loss. Some rabbits may survive and recover but become chronic carriers, shedding the virus and posing a continuous risk.

3. Current Epidemiological Status

Since its first identification in China in 1984, RHD has become endemic in many parts of the world.

RHDV1 vs. RHDV2: The emergence and global spread of RHDV2 (Genogroup 2) have significantly changed the disease's epidemiology.

Broader Host Age Range: RHDV2 can cause severe disease and death in very young rabbits (even under one month), which were previously considered resistant to the classic RHDV1.

Expanded Host Range: It can infect a wider variety of hare and wild rabbit species, complicating control efforts.

Immunological Evasion: Vaccines developed for the classic RHDV1 offer incomplete or no protection against RHDV2, necessitating the use of specific RHDV2 vaccines.

Current Challenge: RHDV2 is now the dominant strain in many regions. Its ability to infect a broader age range and its partial vaccine resistance make it a formidable challenge. The virus spreads through direct contact, contaminated fomites, insects, and people, making strict biosecurity paramount.

4. Application and Advantages of Rapid RHDV Antibody Detection

Rapid and accurate diagnosis is crucial for RHD control. Colloidal gold-based immunochromatographic assay test strips/cards are widely used in the field to detect RHDV-specific antibodies in serum.

Primary Applications:

• Vaccination Efficacy Monitoring: This is the core application. By testing a sample of rabbits 2-3 weeks post-vaccination, farmers can quickly assess whether the vaccination was successful and if the herd has reached a protective antibody level.
• Disease Diagnosis and Surveillance: In chronic or recovered cases, detecting high antibody titers can help confirm a past infection. Testing surviving rabbits after an outbreak can provide clues about its origin.
• Pre-introduction Screening: Testing new breeding stock before introduction prevents bringing in infected or non-immunized animals, thereby safeguarding the existing herd.
• Epidemiological Studies: These tests are useful for monitoring the seroprevalence and immune status of a region or farm, informing targeted control strategies.

Key Advantages:

• Rapid Results: Provides a result within 5-10 minutes, enabling immediate on-site decision-making, unlike laboratory tests which can take days.
• Ease of Use: Requires no specialized equipment or advanced technical skills. Farm staff or field veterinarians can perform the test after minimal training by simply adding serum and buffer to the device.
• Visual and Clear Interpretation: The result (Positive/Negative/Invalid) is determined by the presence or absence of visible Test (T) and Control (C) lines.
• Cost-Effective: The per-test cost is significantly lower than laboratory-based tests like ELISA or PCR, making it suitable for large-scale screening and routine monitoring.
• Portability and Field Usability: The kits are stable, easy to store and transport, and can be used directly at the farm, market, or pen-side, providing true point-of-care testing.

Summary and Recommendation:

Rabbit Viral Hemorrhagic Disease remains the most significant threat to commercial rabbit production, with RHDV2 adding a layer of complexity. A robust defense must be built on a foundation of strict biosecurity, a core of appropriate vaccination, and the vigilant use of rapid diagnostics.

Integrating RHDV Antibody Rapid Test Kits into routine farm management acts as an "immune radar." It allows for proactive monitoring of herd immunity, helps identify vaccination failures early, and ultimately prevents catastrophic losses. This tool is indispensable for the modern, scientific, and precision-based management of rabbit health.

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