3.1 Necropsy and Histopathology
The cadavers of all three necropsied rabbits were in good body condition
suggesting a very rapid course of the disease. Necropsy confirmed the
presence of 1 cm nodules in the base of the ears in one male rabbit
(Fig. 1), together with nose, lips and external genitalia oedema,
purulent blepharitis and lung densification foci. Another adult male
showed white ocular discharge (Fig. 2) and focal lung congestion. Along
with oedema of left eyelid, one juvenile also presented thickening foci
of ears.
Histopathology of the skin lesions revealed marked epidermal
hyperplasia, frequent ballooning degeneration of keratinocytes and
myxoid change of the dermal connective tissue (Fig. 3). In the lung,
thickening of interalveolar septa was observed due to infiltration of
heterophils and mononucleated inflammatory cells, confirming
interstitial pneumonia (Fig.4).