The effect of early immunization of sucking rabbits on the development of trichophytosis in infected farms

Trichophytosis in young domestic rabbits is generally associated with poor husbandry, presence of sick old animals and the contamination of the enviro nment by fungal spores. The most common cause of ringworm is Trichophyton m entagrophytes var. granulosum. The protective efficacy of Alopevac, a vacci ne containing highly immunogenic inactivated T. mentagrophytes and T. Verru cosum, proved good in rabbits vaccinated twice at the age of 10 (group I) o r 18 days (group II) at two week intervals. Alopevac was injected subcutane ously at a dose of 0.3 int (group I) or 0.5 ml (group II). The vaccinated a nd control (unvaccinated) animals were contacted with sick adult rabbits wi th advanced trichophytosis. The immunization of sucking rabbits should be t he method of choice for the protection of young rabbits against trichophyto sis in infected breeding farms.