Mysterious horns to horns | The disease is also present in Canada

Photos of cornus rabbits in Colorado have worried the Internet this week. Moreover, largely because they look like the zombies of The Last of USHBO’s postapocalyptic series. Meanwhile, This mysterious disease, which is probably not dangerous for humans, is also present in Canada, we are told.

Posted at 4:22 p.m.

What gives their horns to Colorado rabbits? – Mysterious horns horns | disease

It is the “Shopa Papillomavirus”. Meanwhile, appointed in honor of a biologist from Rockefeller University, in New York State, who discovered it in the 1930s.

Touching the white rabbit (Sylvilagus floridanus). For example, this virus is transmitted by mosquitoes, mysterious horns horns | disease Robert Timm tells us of the University of Kansas, one of the few specialists in the subject. Furthermore, The disease is not in itself harmful to the rabbit, but it hinders its activities, he underlines.

On social networks, affected rabbits have been nicknamed “Frankensteins”, “Demons” and “Zombies”.

Shop’s papillomavirus probably gave birth to the myth of “Jackalope”, a horns rabbit, according to Mr. In addition, Timm.

Has this virus appeared in Canada? – Mysterious horns horns | disease

No case was reported in Quebec. Similarly, but some were reported in southern Ontario between 2006 and 2022, said Émilie Couture, veterinarian at the University of Montreal and at the Quebec Center on the Health of Wild Animals (CQSAV). Therefore, The D^re Couture peeled the Database of the Canadian Wildlife Health (RCSF), of which the CQSAV is a part.

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“Although we have not documented this condition to my knowledge in Quebec. Moreover, you should know that we do not receive a large amount of white-tailed rabbits for diagnosis, compared to our Ontario colleagues,” she said. Similarly, This species is not currently part of the provincial targeted surveillance programs. Meanwhile, It is therefore not impossible that this condition is present, but not documented by us. In addition, »»

“Unless the lesions become debilitating for the animal. Consequently, prevent it from eating (it is considered above all debilitating for newborns), this condition is generally self-limiting and is generally not considered as having an impact on rabbit populations,” adds Ms. Couture.

For his part, Mr. Timm of Kansas has not heard of cases in Canada. “But it would be possible for them to be in the meadows, mysterious horns horns | disease in environments similar to Midwest. »»

Report an animal disease to the RCSF

Is he dangerous for humans?

A priori no, according to Mr. Timm. “It has never been reported in humans. »»

But this virus is studied by biologists because it is one of the few examples of cancer affecting the animal. notes the Kansas biologist. “There is a lot of work in medicine, especially to better understand the link between human papillomas and cancer. »»

The HPV vaccine, often transmitted by sex, aims to prevent cervical cancer.

Why is he especially present in the Midwest?

“It’s a mystery,” replied Mr. Timm. I published in 2015 a study on rabbits full of museums and we found cases dating mysterious horns horns | disease back to 100 years. But neither in museums nor in veterinary databases. there is a case on the east coast in the United States, and only one case on the west coast, in the state of Washington. »»

The Kansas biologist thinks that this last case comes from the trade in living rabbits which took place in the 1920s. 1930s.

“At the time, hunting clubs on the east and west coast brought in Midwest rabbits. There were so many. and the Midwest was so poor, that farmers had to make ends meet by grabbing rabbits to send them to the hunting clubs in the elites of big coastal cities. We are talking about millions of rabbits. This may be what happened in Washington. If this is the case, it confirms that the disease is particularly well suited to Midwest. »»

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Have rabbits been sent to Canadian hunting clubs?

Probably not, said Mr. Timm. “Even at the time, animal shipments by the Canadian-American border were monitored. »»

Will global warming migrate the shopping papillomavirus to the north?

“It is certain that the virus is influenced by temperature and humidity,” replied Mr. Timm. But in kansas, it can be very cold in winter. So I don’t see why Canada would be more at risk due to climate change. »»