The Incidence of Rabbit Pasteurellosis And Its Initiating Factors

Out of 220 dead rabbits, 1-24 months Old. and of different breeds, 12 isolates of P. lepiseptica wererecovered, 11 were. type At while one isolate only was type D. In addition to P. lepiseptica, ~o coli, Staphylococcusaureus, Bordetella bronchiseptica and Aerococcus were also isolated.7 isolates of E. lepisepticawere detected from 1092 apparently healthy and diseased rabbits, 3 were typeA, and 4 were type D. Staphylococcus aureus and Diplococcus pneumoniae were also isolated. - Experimental in!ections with the isolated~. lepisepticastrains were highly pathogenic to susceptible rabbits ”8-10 weeks old” and mixed infections with E. lepi-septic a and each of the isolated organisms were more severe than~. lepiseptica alone. Both co.ccidiosis and mange played a mild role in theseverity of experimental pasteurella infections. Sensitivity test in vitro indicated that oxytetra- cycline, and chloramphenicol were h1hly effective on the isolated E. leJi.s.£2.i.i.ca stn’.ins; while streptomycin,ampicillin, erythromycin, penicillin and nitrofurantion were of moderate efficiency. Neomycin and sulphautetho-xazole were the least effective drugs.