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| ==Clostridial diseases== | | ==Clostridial diseases== |
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− | These are addressed in many papers by Carman(1994) who refers to several factors that lead to the establishment of C spiroforme in the rabbit gut, including parturition, weaning, change of diet, heat and dehydration, taking blood, removal from germ-free isolation, shipping, old age and over-crowding. The diseases produced by ''Clostridia'' are usually so acute that they are seldom possible to treat successfully | + | These are addressed in many papers by Carman (1994) who refers to several factors that lead to the establishment of C spiroforme in the rabbit gut, including parturition, weaning, change of diet, heat and dehydration, taking blood, removal from germ-free isolation, shipping, old age and over-crowding. The diseases produced by ''Clostridia'' are usually so acute that they are seldom possible to treat successfully |
− | ''C. spiroforme'' colonises gut more frequently after weaning (young rabbits do not digest and absorb starch as efficiently as adults and carry a greater risk of unabsorbed carbohydrate reaching the caecum to act as a bacterial substrate from which toxins may be produced by the organism) and less frequently after antibiotics (Carman 1994) and may be seen in Gram-stained faecal smears and is obvious morphologically as it forms helices, U-, S- and C-shapes. ''C. spiroforme'' produces two types of toxins, iotaa and iotaa which have antigenic properties, a property which might be exploited for the protection of baby rabbits after suitable research (Carman 1994). | + | ''C. spiroforme'' colonises gut more frequently after weaning (young rabbits do not digest and absorb starch as efficiently as adults and carry a greater risk of unabsorbed carbohydrate reaching the caecum to act as a bacterial substrate from which toxins may be produced by the organism) and less frequently after antibiotics (Carman, 1994) and may be seen in Gram-stained faecal smears and is obvious morphologically as it forms helices, U-, S- and C-shapes. ''C. spiroforme'' produces two types of toxins, iotaa and iotaa which have antigenic properties, a property which might be exploited for the protection of baby rabbits after suitable research (Carman, 1994). |
− | The role of ''C. perfringens'' types A and E in the production of diarrhoea in rabbits has yet to be clarified (Carman 1994). | + | The role of ''C. perfringens'' types A and E in the production of diarrhoea in rabbits has yet to be clarified (Carman, 1994). |
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− | '''''C. difficile''''' diarrhoea is a frequently fatal disease of rabbits encountered after the use of oral antibiotics (Carman 1994). It is interesting to note that this is not listed as a zoonosis by Bell et al (1988). | + | '''''C. difficile''''' diarrhoea is a frequently fatal disease of rabbits encountered after the use of oral antibiotics (Carman, 1994). It is interesting to note that this is not listed as a zoonosis by Bell et al (1988). |
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| '''''C. sordelli''''' - experimental. | | '''''C. sordelli''''' - experimental. |
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− | '''''C tympani cuniculi''''' - one case only (Carman 1994). | + | '''''C tympani cuniculi''''' - one case only (Carman, 1994). |
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| ===Treatment of clostridial enteritis=== | | ===Treatment of clostridial enteritis=== |