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Star (Christchurch), Issue 18787, 17 June 1929, Page 5

The discovery of a case of tuberculosis in an imported Angora rabbit was reported to the East Coast Rabbit Board (states the “ New Zealand Herald”). Correspondence between the Live Stock Division of the Department of Agriculture and Mr D. M. Ross, senior stock inspector at Gisborne, was submitted to the board. It was stated that the case mentioned was the only ne known among Angora rabbits in this country. A letter from the district superintendent, Wellington, to the inspector at Gisborne, read. “ Advice has been received from the Massey College to the effect that an imported Angora rabbit, which had been sent there for advice and treatment, died, and on post-mortem examination was found to be extensively affected with tuberculosis. This is rather a serious matter in view of the mirnber of rabbits that are being imported from Great Britain, and I shall be glad if you will advise me whether any similar cases of this sort have come under your notice. It will be well to keep a look-out for any such cases in your district, and when rabbits are reported to be ailing the matter should be reported.” To this, Mr D. M. Ross had replied: “No similar case to that reported has occurred here. In view of these rabbits being in close association with adults and young persons as household pets, the position is very grave indeed. I trust some necessary precaution mav be taken before there are more importations to this district.” Tn response to this, the Department wrote: “Inquiries have been made by all inspectors and no other case of tuberculosis in rabbits has come to light, though some hundreds of these rabbits are now in the Dominion. It would appear that, so far, there is no more danger to humans from these rabbits than from the ordinary domestic cat. or dog. There is no occasion for arty sewt respect to the matter.”