Living with RHDV2

LIVING WITH RHDV2 RHDV2 QUESTIONS & ANSWERS

AN INTERVIEW WITH MICHAELINA MCCONNELL

What does it mean to have a bio secure rabbitry?

Michaeline was hit early on living with the RHDv2 virus dilemma and has had a systematic approach to biosecurity. The following is a series of questions to help you get started with biosecurity in your barn.

Michaeline, I understand the area you live in is where there is a lot of RHDv2 in the wild rabbits/hares? Have there been a lot of restrictions on being able to show?

I live in San Diego county. We have had only 2 official wild cases from May 2020-Feb 2021. The counties north of me, Riverside/San Bernardino/Los Angeles/Kern County have had far more confirmed wild cases. Due to the first wild confirmed cases near Palm Springs, Ca on May 11, 2020, my herd has been in near total lockdown and restricted from showing due to ARBA rules implemented last Summer. There were a few weeks that my area was not within lockdown and I could (and did) attend a few shows.

How did you educate yourself on this virus and in par-

Pictured left: Virkon S Mix 1 scoop to gallon of water -- ideal mix for footbath; 4 teaspoons to 1/2 gallon of water -- ideal mix for handheld spray bottle; 1/2 gallon = 2 qts = 8 cups

ticular how did you decide how you were going to deal with the virus and protect your herd?

I first learned about this virus via an acquaintance in New Mexico. In late March 2020, my friend messaged me that they had to depopulate their herd due to contracting RHDv2. They gave me some basic information and said to get ready for it to arrive in my area. I immediately joined an RHDv2 group on Facebook. I then read all I could online and discovered that this virus was already in Europe, UK and Australia for many years. I educated myself on their protocols and also that there were several vaccines available in Europe. I decided to prepare my physical space before RHDv2 got to my state and await the approval for any vaccine in my state. To start protecting my barn, I looked at how this virus is transmitted. It is not airborne which is good. It can only be physically transmitted via contact. After reading scientific papers and personal stories, I summed up that humans end up being the main vector of transmission. In addition, carriers can be other animals such as rodents or pets, insects, birds, carrion eaters, and predators. The virus can also live-in dirt, on equipment, in feeds such as hay and fodder for up to 15 weeks in high or low temps, on clothing, shoes and many other places where no host is available. Sealing up the rabbitry and altering my habits were imperative to reduce transmission possibilities. Next, I had to find a way to kill the virus for anything going in or out of the rabbitry. Diluted bleach at a 1:10 solution was effective. Also, Virkon S mixed with water to its proper ratio was also proven to be effective. Both have to remain in wet contact with surfaces for 10 minutes to kill RHDv2. I personally chose Virkon S because it was more readily available at the time, whereas, COVID had reduced all bleach supplies in stores. My main tools in preparation for the upcoming virus was to seal my rabbitry from possible vectors, changing my habits to keep me from being a vector, and using an effective viricide on equipment and items that enter the rabbitry,

What does Biosecurity mean related to rabbit husbandry?

Each individual has to define biosecurity for themselves and what level of risk they are willing to take. In the beginning, biosecurity meant no rabbits in or out of the rabbitry. Complete lockdown. I sealed my floors to prevent anything coming though the boards (my rabbitry is in a screened porch on raised decking on one side of my house). I sprayed Virkon S on everything going into the rabbitry. I even sprayed Virkon S on my tires and the steps of my house. I use special shoes for the various areas: outside, inside the house, and in the rabbitry. My rabbitry is screened but I also have automatic fly sprayers for any stragglers that get in. When I buy hay, I make sure it is from a non RHDv2

area, and I transport it from car to rabbitry on a brand new, purchased tarp. I break apart the bale and place it in plastic tubs. The tarp is then disposed of. In the beginning, I used plastic food handling gloves to feed. I rarely touched my rabbits for months and I made sure to change into clean clothing before entering the rabbitry, and not touch my dog until after I finished my rabbit chores. I did not breed or consider showing. I rarely groomed--thank goodness most had molted and were in short coats right around the time the virus was confirmed in our state! I also stopped allowing my rabbits to play on the ground. They are in their cages, or on the grooming stand. If I want to let some play in a play pen inside the rabbitry, I will apply Virkon S to the floor. I have covered my floor in the washable rubber mat interlocking pieces used in schools and gyms. These can be cleaned and sanitized.

What are the steps you have taken to have Biosecurity in your barn? Are there things you do on a regular basis? Could you walk us through what you do?

Today, I am not in crazy lockdown mode. Most of my herd is vaccinated But, my biosecurity is still high. My feed and hay are all in sealed tubs/bins. I have shoes for just the rabbitry. I have a bottle of Virkon S that I make up on a weekly basis by the door of the rabbitry. So, anything going into the rabbitry can be sprayed down before entering. The fly sprayer is constantly going. My screens are relatively new and are in very good shape. I am the only person allowed in. And my dog cannot come in, ever. So, my day begins by opening my sliding glass door, I have a small table that I can reach in and grab my water jugs. I grab those and fill in my house without even stepping into the rabbitry. I then take off my indoor shoes (crocs) and then step into the rabbitry shoes (a different color of crocs). I water rabbits, and then feed everyone. Cleaning cages is easier and safer now with the use of spa liners in the trays. I just gather up the plastic with the waste and place in a new garbage bag that I can then haul off to my dumpster. No taking trays outside to dump, wash and sanitize! My goal is to be in and out of the rabbitry as few times as possible. So, my day usual sees me entering and exiting the rabbity twice a day--morning and evening.

How do you move from your Biosecure barn to a rabbit show? Are there any additional things to consider and do when going to shows?

To go to a rabbit show, my main thought is not to have anything touch the ground. Carriers are placed in the car without touching the ground from rabbitry to car. I then will load my rabbits individually from rabbitry to carriers that are in the car, changing shoes of course along the way. I also have a fresh batch of Virkon S in a spray bottle readily accessible when I drive. I drive in my outdoor shoes (crocs again!) and spray then every time I step onto the car. I also try not drive through hot zones. As RHDv2 spreads, everywhere is becoming a hot zone. I try to make as few stops as possible, and sanitize my shoes every time I have to step out and get back into the car. (Sometimes, I have even brought inside car shoes and a bag with outdoor only shoes as an option.) At a show, I will spray my area with sanitizer, and have something clean to place my bags on. Last show I used a sun visor for my car. I placed the sun visor on the pre Virkon S sprayed ground and then had a nice spot for my bags & cooler. At a show, I do not let carriers touch the ground. I kept them on a show cart. If anything drops on the ground, I have Clorox bleach wipes to sanitize and let sit for 10 minutes. I make sure to have space around my area and not get my rabbits too close to other rabbits, just to reduce my risk. I know I cannot eliminate my risk of transmission, but just like snuffles, vent disease, etc. you do what you can to reduce the risk of getting unwanted diseases. As I am packing up, I note what has touched the ground, and spray before placing back into the car. The legs of my chair, the legs of my grooming stand and the wheels of my cart get sprayed with Virkon S before placing back into my vehicle. Ideally, you should then isolate and quarantine your show stock for 30 days. For RHDv2 the incubation times is 1-5 days. I personally never have quarantined my show stock from my brood stock because they are one and the same. So, I accept that increased level of risk. Anyway, when I get back home, I unload my rabbits individually back to their cages and then wait to unload the car the next day. The following day, I wash and sanitize all equipment before storing. Living and showing with RHDv2 means building good habits that reduce transmission and being always aware of your current situation and how it can be a transmittable moment. Risk for contracting RHDV2 can never be eliminated but it can be reduced through biosecurity, controlling interactions between the rabbitry and the outside world, sanitizing properly, and vaccinating when available. In summary, you have to think about what you are doing all the time to keep biosecurity in place. It will become a way of life in short order, but first you have to start with the process.