Seroprevalence and treatment for skin lesions of rabbit syphilis in pet rabbits

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.