Bacterial Diseases

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PASTEURELLOSIS:  The bacterium Pasteurella multocida is the major

infectious agent of rabbits.  It is most often transmitted among

chronically infected does and their litters or between breeding

males and females.  The bacteria most often reside in the nose,

lungs and eye membranes, but can spread to other areas of the

body.



Pasteurellosis of rabbits may take many different forms.

Respiratory disease, including pneumonia and infection of the

nasal passages and sinuses, is very common.  Infections of the

eye membranes, middle ear, jawbone and uterus are most often

the result of the Pasteurella organism.  Abscesses are also

common and occur when the Pasteurella organism settles in a

specific location.  The rabbit's body responds to this invasion

with an influx of tremendous numbers of white blood cells to

fight the infection.  Pus results from the accumulation of dead

and dying white blood cells and tissue cells in the area of the

infection.



Pasteurella infections may become incurable if untreated or

improperly treated.  Aggressive antibiotic therapy with the

appropriate drugs, however, especially if undertaken early in

the course of the disease, is often rewarding.  Many antibiotics

have great difficulty penetrating the relatively inaccessible

sites of most infections and the thick pus seen in rabbit

abscesses.



Pasteurellosis is a persistent problem in most rabbitries and

very difficult to eradicate.  This disease creates its most

serious problems under conditions of malnutrition, overcrowding,

poor sanitation, temperature extremes, inadequate air

circulation and other stressful situations.



Ideally, prospective owners should obtain their pet rabbit from

a Pasteurella-free rabbitry, but this is not always possible.

Regardless of origin, all newly acquired pet rabbits should be

thoroughly examined by a veterinarian as soon as possible after

purchase.



ABSCESSES:  As mentioned in the previous section on

Pasteurellosis, rabbits are very prone to abscess formation.

The bacteria most often involved in these abscesses include

Pasteurella multocida and Staphylococcus aureus.  Abscesses

represent focal areas of infection and may be in single or

multiple locations.  The most important consideration regarding

this condition is the way in which abscesses must be treated.

Because rabbit pus is roughly the consistency of toothpaste,

lancing and draining abscesses are difficult, and attempts to do

so may be futile.  Abscesses should be treated as if they were

tumors and be surgically removed.  In addition, an appropriate

antibiotic should be given.



RESPIRATORY DISEASE:  Most respiratory diseases of rabbits are

caused by the bacterium Pasteurella multocida, though other

bacteria are often involved.  In rare instances, the protozoan

(one-celled) organisms that cause coccidiosis colonize the nasal

passages and cause respiratory disease.  Respiratory signs often

include sneezing, nasal congestion and discharge, eye

discharge, listlessness, inappetence and pneumonia.



Respiratory disease of rabbits must be aggressively treated with

an appropriate antibiotic (determined by a bacterial culture and

antibiotic sensitivity test) and for an appropriate length of

time to prevent relapses.  Unfortunately, research has shown

that the Pasteurella organism often resides within pus in

inaccessible areas (such as the nasal passages) and remains

isolated from the therapeutic effects of antibiotics.  These

protected organisms serve as a source for reinfection.  For this

reason, a total cure for Pasteurella-related disease may be very

difficult.



EYE INFECTIONS are relatively common extensions of sinus

infections in rabbits and should be treated aggressively with

systemic (body-wide) and topical antibiotics.  This is important

because the eyes are connected to the brain by important nerves.

If an eye infection goes unchecked, encephalitis (infection of

the brain) is a common and dangerous consequence.