Bunny Cooties: When Bunnies can Make You Sick
by Astrid Kruse, DVM
A zoonotic disease is one that is transmitted from a non-human animal to a human. Thankfully, there are comparatively few diseases that pet rabbits can pass to humans, and most are not serious. Most diseases humans contract from animals are through the food supply and not from pets, especially rabbits. However, human bunny parents should be aware of the diseases they could catch from their rabbits.
Cheyletiella or “the walking dandruff mite” is common in rabbits. Anything that looks flaky or red on bunnies is a mite infection until proven otherwise. The actual mites are difficult to find, but quite easy to treat with ivermectin or Revolution® (selamectin). Rabbits can suddenly develop signs of a mite infestation even if they haven’t been around other bunnies. Bunnies may have low numbers of mites on them without showing signs for years, but any underlying immune system dysfunction can allow the mites to proliferate. Humans can temporarily have this species of mite crawl on them and may develop little red bumps on their skin. In vet school before I knew what all the dandruff on my Angora rabbit meant, my little Mac slept in bed with us and neither my husband nor I developed a rash, if that is of comfort.
Ringworm is a fungal infection of the skin that rabbits can sometimes carry asymptomatically (no signs of the infection show) or have skin lesions that look like crusty circles. This fungus is a relative of athlete’s foot and jock itch, lovely thought. Some people seem to be more sensitive than others to contracting the infection − itchy red circles are the classic sign. This is more annoying than anything else, except when the infection is widespread across the body, which may ruin a first date.
Pasteurella is a bacteria that most rabbits carry. Humans can get infected from bite wounds or deep scratches, and an abscess may develop. Prompt cleaning of any wound that breaks the skin will likely stop infection, and hopefully your pet bunny doesn’t have such terrible manners.
Encephalitozoon cuniculi is a common parasite in rabbits. The normal human immune system does a remarkable job of defending against disease. However, humans with severely compromised immune systems, such as end-stage AIDS patients, can develop this disease and become very ill. The organism is transmitted through the urine of infective rabbits for about three weeks after infection. However, unless you are seriously ill, your immune system shields you from this as from so many of the endless bugs we are constantly exposed to.
Tularemia is a very rare bacterial disease that humans can contract from rabbits, but this usually occurs in hunters of wild rabbits and hares. Pet parents of indoor rabbits are not at risk.
Although external parasites like fleas and ticks are not zoonotic germs, they can jump from a rabbit to a human. A pet would contract these from the great outdoors, although some houses are infested, usually from dogs or cats that go outdoors without appropriate preventive medication. Keeping a bunny indoors will prevent new infections, and existing ones can be easily treated. Frontline® is not safe for rabbits. Revolution (selamectin) is safe and effective. I do not recommend flea baths, as they don’t work well and have fairly toxic chemicals.
Diseases that do not pass from rabbits to humans: pinworms (human pinworms are a different species), bacterial skin infections and abscesses, urinary tract infections, and a bad attitude. You can not get sick from cleaning rabbit litterboxes, even if you are pregnant. Herpes can spread from human to rabbits, so kissing your bunny when you have a cold sore can kill your pet! Diseases that do not pass from humans to rabbits: colds, flu, stomach viruses, or anything else. Diseases that pass from humans to humans: a zillion. So kiss your bunny, but wash your hands well after touching anything that has been near or on another human please.