Bacterial Disease of Rabbits

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.
Internal Bacterial InfectionsInternal bacterial infections from a host of bacterial organisms are common among rabbits. Affected rabbits show a wide variety of signs because multiple organs (liver, kidney, intestinal tract, brain, etc.) are usually involved.

Laboratory workups (blood, urine, bacterial cultures) are vital to properly diagnose and monitor the progress of these cases. Laboratory tests also help predict the outcome.
Rabbits suffering from these serious multiple organ bacterial infections (septicemias) must be aggressively treated with appropriate antibiotics and p roper supportive care (nutrition, fluids, etc.). Recovery usually requires several weeks or more of treatment. If infection results in formation of internal abscesses, a cure may be virtually impossible.

Venereal Spirochetosis (Rabbit Syphilis): Rabbit syphilis is a relatively rare sexually transmitted (venereal) disease of pet rabbits. This disease is caused by a slender, spiral bacterium (spirochete) transmitted by direct contact between infected and uninfected rabbits. Transmission is more likely to occur in rabbitries than in a household. In fact, exchange of bucks breeding males) among rabbit breeders helps spread the disease.
Infected rabbits develop multiple raised, crusted and sometimes bleeding ulcers on the external genitalia, around the anus, and on the face (particularly the nose). Affected rabbits remain alert and the condition usually disappears after several weeks. Treatment is recommended and involves antibiotic injections.