• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.26 no.6
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• pp.625-627
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• 2009

Treponematosis, called rabbit syphilis, is an infectious disease caused by Treponema cuniculi in rabbits. In this case report, five rabbits were presented with severe crusts in lips, genitalia and nose. Skin scrapings and fungal test were negative. Human syphilis antibody test was positive. The rabbits were treated with penicillin and chloramphenicol for 3 weeks and the crusts were significantly decreased from 5 to 7 days after treatment. No crusts were evident in the rabbits 3 weeks after treatment. These rabbits were cases of treponematosis which showed a favorable therapeutic response by penicillin and chloramphenicol.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.15-18
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• 2014

A total of 122 rabbits (40 males, 51 females, 25 castrated males and 6 spayed females; age range: 3 months to 11 years; weight range: 0.8-3.4 kg) were admitted to Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital of Chungnam National University from January 2012 to February 2013. The syphilis rapid test was positive in 21.3% of rabbits, with a significant difference in the rates of positivity between male versus female rabbits and rabbits younger than 1 year versus older than 1 year of age (both p < 0.01). Skin lesions were detected around the lips (59.1%), nose (56.5%), genitalia (50.0%), anus (40.9%) and eyelids (18.2%). Coexisting skin lesions were found on the nose and lips (26.0%); anus and genitalia (21.8%); lips, anus and genitalia (17.4%) of rabbits. Twenty-two rabbits with skin lesions were subcutaneously treated with Penicillin G (48,000-84,000 IU/kg, Green cross, Korea) every 7 days for three or four weeks. All skin lesions were disappeared after Penicillin G treatment. In conclusion, a rabbits with skin lesions and serological test positive for syphilis should undergo prompt treatment and not be used for breeding.