Natural history of infection with Pasteurella multocida in rabbits

J Am Vet Med Assoc. 1983 Dec 1;183(11):1172-5.

Abstract

Monitoring of rabbits at a commercial rabbitry for Pasteurella multocida infection revealed that the nares of 10 litters of New Zealand White rabbits were not colonized before weaning at 8 weeks of age, regardless of whether or not the does were infected. The earliest nasal infection was detected at 12 weeks of age, and by 22 weeks of age, 23% had P multocida infection. Rhinitis developed 2 or more weeks after infection was detected in most rabbits. A survey of 76 adult rabbits in the breeding colony revealed that 72% had P multocida infection. In 31 rabbits with rhinitis, 90% were infected, whereas in 55 rabbits with P multocida infection, only 50% had rhinitis. During the period of surveillance, there was an epizootic of rhinitis caused by P multocida. All age groups except preweanlings were affected. Serotyping of 29 isolates of P multocida revealed that 93% were somatic type 12. Surveillance of rabbits for pasteurellosis at a laboratory animal facility revealed that the following clinical syndromes developed in decreasing order of magnitude: rhinitis, conjunctivitis, abscesses, and otitis media.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Abscess / epidemiology
  • Abscess / etiology
  • Abscess / veterinary
  • Age Factors
  • Animals
  • Animals, Laboratory
  • Animals, Suckling
  • Conjunctivitis / epidemiology
  • Conjunctivitis / etiology
  • Conjunctivitis / veterinary
  • Female
  • Otitis Media / epidemiology
  • Otitis Media / etiology
  • Otitis Media / veterinary
  • Pasteurella / classification
  • Pasteurella Infections / epidemiology
  • Pasteurella Infections / veterinary*
  • Pregnancy
  • Rabbits*
  • Rhinitis / epidemiology
  • Rhinitis / etiology
  • Rhinitis / veterinary
  • Serotyping / veterinary
  • Washington