Rabbit in Research.
The European rabbit ( Oryctolagus cuniculus) is a lagomorph, descended from wild rabbits of Europe and northwest Africa, where they still exist today. They have been semi domesticated for roughly 200 years.
Rabbits are covered by the Animal Welfare Act. They are the only covered species without a lower limit for temperatures; they are however extremely susceptible to heat. High temperatures can also affect male fertility.[1] The rabbit’s large ears aid in thermoregulation and also provide a convenient site for blood collection and IV injections.
Rabbits were used by Louis Pasteur in the development of the rabies vaccine[2] and have been used in the study of cardiovascular disease, immunology, diabetes, cancer and eye infections, to name a few. They are frequently used for polyclonal antibody production, ophthalmology and pyrogen testing.
Rabbits can be prone to malocclusion, both the incisors and the smaller peg teeth. They have a fragile skeleton, which comprises only 8% of body weight. Care must be exercised in handling and restraint to protect the fragile spine from accidental fracture.
The most frequently used rabbit is the New Zealand White. They are born naked and hairless (altricial), and exhibit coprophagy, ingesting cecotropes rich in protein and vitamins. Rabbits are active and curious, and in the wild they live in mixed groups in underground burrows. They exhibit a stable social order, seldom fighting.
In the laboratory, rabbits are usually housed in suspended caging, often including a thermoneutral element such as the floor or a perch. They are fed a standardized diet, and water quality and availability is very important. Rabbits consume twice as much water as food, and water consumption increases as temperature increases. [3] Some laboratories group or pair house rabbits as part of the environmental enrichment program.
Recent changes to the Guide have increased the height of the cage, and encourages consideration of the vertical space in the primary enclosure. Rabbits may benefit from perches in their cages and/or increased floor space to allow for greater freedom of movement, especially for larger animals. They also recommend larger square footage per animal for singly housed rabbits.
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[1] Harkness, J., et al., Harkness and Wagner’s The Biology and Medicine of Rabbits and Rodents, Fifth Ed., Hoboken:Wiley-Blackwell, 2010, p. 33.
[1] Rabbit-Animal Research Info, retrieved 7/3/11, (
http://www.animalresearch.info/en/science/animalsused/rabbit-)
[1] Harkness et al., p. 35.