“Frankenstein” rabbits were identified in the United States

They inspired the myth of a fantastic creature and have currently been seen in the American State of Colorado. These horned rabbits suffer from a virus, but are harmless.

Thomas Wanhoff / t-online

In the American state of Colorado, there are more and more rabbits with strange growths. They have kinds of horns, especially on the head, which makes them look like little monsters. The viral photos inspired a whole series of unflattering nicknames, such as “Frankenstein rabbits”, “demonic rabbits” and “zombie rabbits”.

Several rabbits have been observed in the region of the city of Fort Collins with this type of outgrowth, which are due to a virus: the shopping papillomavirus can cause warts which can be transformed into long horns. This virus known for scientists for a long time is transmitted between rabbits, but not to other animals or humans, as Kara Van Hoose said of the Colorado parks service.

The sick rabbits would also have served as a model for the mythical American creature of “Jackalope”, a rabbit with deer or antelope woods. According to legend, the jackalope is extremely shy, can imitate human voice and can only be captured during a thunderstorm.

Breakthroughs in medical research

Sulls are not dangerous for rabbits, as long as they do not cover their eyes or do not close their mouths. As a rule, the rodent’s immune system can fight this infection, which gradually removes warts.

Research on these rabbits has made it possible to better understand viruses, such as that of human papilloma, which can cause uterus cancer. The virus was appointed in honor of Dr. Richard E. Shop, professor at the American University of Rockefeller, who discovered the disease in rabbits in the 1930s.

Translated from German by Anne Castella