Report Details

Carrier: Delta Air Lines

Flight Number: 131

Date and Time of Incident April 8, 2012, 2:00 PM

Type of Incident: Death

Description of Animal Breed: Mixed Holland Lop and Rex Rabbit Age: 2 years

Description of Incident: Pet male rabbit was accepted for transportation through Delta’s checked baggage system for transport from Munich, Germany to Minneapolis, Minnesota via Atlanta, Georgia. The rabbit died during the flight from Munich to Atlanta.

Cause of Incident:
A necropsy of the rabbit indicated the cause of death was an acute pulmonary edema likely caused by aspiration of ingesta. The underlying cause is probably the encephalitis which was severe enough to have caused seizures. The encephalitis was associated with protozoal organisms morphologically consistent with Encephalitozoon cuniculi.

Corrective Action Taken: The protozoa were contracted prior to transportation and no corrective action is needed.