Risk factors for an acute expression of Epizootic Rabbit Enteropathy syndrome in rabbits after weaning in French kindling-to-finish farms

Epizootic Rabbit Enteropathy (ERE) is a severe clinical syndrome of rabbits causing high economic losses for farmers. ERE first appeared in France in 1996. A retrospective case–control survey was carried out to identify the risk factors of acute expression of ERE, after weaning, in 96 kindling-to-finish rabbit farms in western France during 2001 and 2002. Farm status was defined according to the expression of clinical signs of ERE and mortality rates in the last five broiler rabbit batches. Comparisons of structural characteristics, rearing conditions and herd management showed that the risk factors for acute ERE expression were late weaning (rabbit age at weaning ≥ 35 days, RR = 4.44, 95% CI 1.36–21.71]), transfer of young rabbits at weaning (young rabbit transfer or combined practice RR = 2.83, 95% CI 1.16–9.33]), and high volume of the fattening room (air volume/rabbit weight in fattening room at weaning ≥ 0.14m³/kg, RR = 2.98, 95% CI 1.29–8.42]) and a high mortality rate in young rabbits before weaning (i.e. rate ≥ 10.5%; RR = 2.18, 95% CI 1.20–3.53]).