PARATUBERCULOSIS IN WILD RABBITS (ORYCTOLAGUS-CUNICULUS)

A survey of wild rabbits in Tayside, Scotland revealed that 67 per cen t were infected with Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis. In general, the infected rabbits had histopathological changes within the lymph nodes and intestines which were consistent with the changes due to paratuberculosis in ruminants, The survey raises the possibilit y that rabbits and other wildlife may be involved in the epidemiology of paratuberculosis, a possibility which has important implications fo r the control of the disease.