Watch out for these exaggerated rumors of “Frankenstein” rabbits which sow panic on social networks

“If this thing is hard. However, touches us, it’s over for all of us I think“Said a surfer in a video published on August 14 and seen more than 600,000 times on Tiktok.

Some publications go so far as to suggest bringing down infected animals encountered in the wild: “Sometimes I understand why. Furthermore, the Americans all have big guns when I see the filth they have at home …“, writes for example a surfer on Reddit.

But fauna experts have told AFP that. Moreover, if the publications refer to a real disease, they exaggerate its gravity (link archived here). Furthermore, This virus is not new watch out these exaggerated rumors and does not represent a serious threat to humans or for other animal species.

A known disease

Kara Van Hoose. Consequently, communications manager for the northeast region of the Colorado State Natural Resources Department (“Colorado Parks and Wildlife”), AFP told AFP on August 13 that photos probably show an epidemic of Shope rabbit papillomavirus In the region of Fort Collins (link archived here and here).

“We have started to receive more rabbits reports affected in northern Colorado since the first photos are broadcast. In addition, We may have a dozen reports. For example, but it is very likely that they are the same animals reported several times, not a dozen infected rabbits“, she adds.

This disease is transmitted by insects such as fleas and ticks. However, It causes growths resembling warts, most often on the face and neck. These can sometimes get longer and give the impression of horns. In the majority of cases, watch out these exaggerated rumors the animal lives normally with these lesions, which can disappear spontaneously. “”We would be concerned only if the growths reach the eyes. prevent the rabbit from eating“, said Kara Van Hoose.

However. she pointed out that it was not uncommon to see infected rabbits, especially in summer, when fleas and ticks, vectors of the virus, are the most active. The virus can be transmitted from one rabbit to another, but not to other species, including humans and pets.

The rabbit immune system is capable of fighting the virus and, once it does, the growths disappear, she added.

Advanced cases have already been documented in the past. AFP was also able to identify one of the rabbits appearing in a photo relayed online: it was not a living animal. but a specimen kept in the collections of the Museum of Natural History of the University of Kansas, whose background corresponds to a photo published watch out these exaggerated rumors in 2015 on a specialized blog (link archived here).

“On historical specimens from the University of Kansas. we were able to identify the virus on an eastern rabbit kept for more than a century“, For AFP Robert Timm, professor emeritus of this university, told AFP. According to him. recent reports do not reflect a new threat:”The virus has been present in the environment since perhaps tens of thousands of years“He said on August 14 (link archived here).

According to him. no case of transmission of this virus to man, whether by mosquitoes or by rabbits, has never been documented.

Watch out these exaggerated rumors

Discovered in the 1930s

Indeed. the growths observed among rabbits are not new: they have been documented in the United States for more than a century. The disease was described for the first time in 1933 by the American virologist Richard Shope. who gave his name to the virus (link archived here).

This shopping watch out these exaggerated rumors rabbit papillomavirus has marked both popular culture and scientific research. He would have inspired the North American myth of “Jackalope”, a folk creature described as a rabbit with wood. The study of this virus also contributed to establishing the link between certain viruses. the development of cancers, as in the case of human papillomavirus (HPV), responsible in particular for cervical cancer (link archived here).

Local authorities have also confirmed that this disease only affects rabbits. “”Domestic animals should not come into contact with wild rabbits. but there is no risk for humans, dogs or cats“Said Kara Van Hoose, from Colorado Parks and Wildlife. Crown rabbits can however be contaminated.

Karen Fox. doctor specializing in anatomy in the veterinary laboratory of the State University of Colorado, also recalls that affection “is often more severe in domestic rabbits than in wild rabbits“. She recommends keeping them inside. especially in summer and autumn, periods when watch out these exaggerated rumors vector insects are the most active (link archived here).