“Hideous”. “Demonic”. “They are zombies!”. “I know well what a rabbit appears and that wasn’t.” These are just some of the comments that have appeared on the social networks of the inhabitants of the Colorado in the last month, when several photos and reports to the local news of bizarre -looking rabbits began to circulate: twisted horns, tentacles in the mouth, black spots over the eyes … and as often happens, reality is decidedly less disturbing than what it seems: the rabbits are in fact affected by a disease, their version of the Papillomavirus, frightening aspect, although not (too much) bad to animals.
Soni the Silvilaghi. First of all some technical information: we called them rabbits but the correct term is Silvilaghi, to be precise of the species Sylvilagus Floridanus. These are relatives of our European rabbits, very similar also in appearance, but natives of the American continent. The first infected individuals were seen by the parts of Fort Collins, home of the Colorado State University; The natural areas around the city are managed by the Colorado Parks and Wildlife, which immediately identified the problem in the “zombie rabbits”.
What is the Papillomavirus of the rabbits. As mentioned, it is a virus, their version of the papillomavirus, to be precise. Discovered in 1930 by a researcher who dealt with cancer (and in fact the disease can degenerate precisely in tumors), the Papillomavirus dei Silvilaghi is transmitted by ticks, fleas and mosquitoes, and is also contagious among the same rabbits.
Every year he has a peak in the summer months, when the proliferation of potential vectors increases the probability of infection and contagion. This Papillomavirus, however, does not have the ability to infect other species, and therefore does not create health problems for humans.
The danger to pets. And as far as Silvilaghi are concerned? Here too the answer is less tragic than expected: the growths that are formed on infected rabbits tend to disappear on them over five/six months, something that occurs in 35% of cases of infection. In the most serious cases, as mentioned, the disease can degenerate into one or more tumors, but the real risk that rabbits are running is when the growths prevent them from seeing or feeding on.
So said that, despite their frightening aspect, the silvilaghi suffering from Papillomavirus almost never risk life, the most serious problem is with household rabbits. When they are infected by the virus, in fact, they suffer much more serious consequences, and develop lethal tumors in most cases.
The main concern for the people of Colorado, therefore, should be for their domestic bunnies, not for an invasion of Silvilaghi Zombie …