Candidiasis – Rabbit

Candidiasis is quite easily reproduced in rabbits under glucocorticosteroid treatment (Maestrone and Semar 1992 quoted by Raab 1972) and following chronic dribbling (saliva and urine) and wetting from faulty sipper bottles. The clinician should be watchful for this condition in pets.

Diagnosis is by the examination of fairly deep skin scrapings.

Treatment

Treatment is quite simple; daily topical applications of antimycotics such as:

• enilconazole (Imaverol®; Janssen-Cilag),
• Malaseb® Leo Laboratories)
• cotrimazole (Canesten Solution®; Bayer Consumer)
• natamycin (Mycophyt®; Intervet)

Small areas may be treated topically with nystatin (Panalog®; Novartis – take care - this product contains triamcinalone, a fairly potent corticosteroid which can be absorbed from intact or broken skin or ingested).

Note: It is important to use non-ointment-based topical products in rabbits to avoid matting and subsequent loss of fur which exacerbates the condition.

References

• Raab, W.P.(1972): Natamycin (Pimarcin): Its properties and possibilities in medicine. Georg Thieme Publishers Stuttgart ISBN 3 13 491601 0.