Korn A K, Brandt H R, Erhardt G
Department of Animal Breeding and Genetics, Justus-Liebig-University, Ludwigstrasse 21b, 35390 Giessen, Germany.
Vet Rec. 2016 Apr 2;178(14):341. doi: 10.1136/vr.103293. Epub 2016 Feb 23.
Tooth alterations of 281 rabbits from 10 different breeds were evaluated, starting at the age of three weeks until they were fully grown. All rabbits were kept in an outdoor facility, fed with a pelleted diet and had free access to water and hay. The most common finding in 3182 clinical examinations was a gap between the mandibular incisors (38 per cent). Skull X-rays from 4 adult breeding rabbits, 15 offspring with clinical signs of dental disease and 12 clinically healthy siblings were assessed by two different methods using cephalometric distances and anatomical reference lines. Repeatabilities of cephalometric distances were mostly low and no significant associations to tooth health were found. The anatomical reference lines revealed dental findings even in rabbits that were graded as tooth healthy in previous clinical examinations. On the basis of the demonstrated age-dependent development of tooth and jaw malformations a first examination and selection at the age of 12 weeks can be recommended. Also genetic aspects for tooth and jaw malformations were considered. The estimated heritability for brachygnathia superior was 0.254 ± 0.169 for all examinations and 0.105 ± 0.092 comprising the last examination of each rabbit when fully grown.
对来自10个不同品种的281只兔子的牙齿变化进行了评估，从三周龄开始直至它们完全长大。所有兔子都饲养在室外设施中，喂食颗粒饲料，可自由饮水和食用干草。在3182次临床检查中最常见的发现是下颌切牙之间有间隙（38%）。对4只成年种兔、15只患有牙齿疾病临床症状的后代以及12只临床健康的同胞的颅骨X光片，使用头颅测量距离和解剖参考线通过两种不同方法进行了评估。头颅测量距离的重复性大多较低，未发现与牙齿健康有显著关联。解剖参考线即使在先前临床检查中被判定为牙齿健康的兔子中也揭示了牙齿问题。基于所证明的牙齿和颌骨畸形的年龄依赖性发育，建议在12周龄时进行首次检查和筛选。还考虑了牙齿和颌骨畸形的遗传因素。所有检查中上颌短缩的估计遗传力为0.254±0.169，当每只兔子完全长大后进行最后一次检查时，遗传力为0.105±0.092。
