Changes

==Tyzzer's disease (or bacillary typhilitis)==

==Tyzzer's disease (or bacillary typhilitis)==

is caused by the obligatory intracellular Clostridium (formerly Bacillus) piliformis, a gram-variable organism diagnosed on post-mortem examina¬tion by histopathology utilising Giemsa or Warthin-Starry staining techniques (Walden 1990). The organism may be seen on impression smears of the ileum lining (see Okerman 1994). The organism does not grow on broth or agar. Predisposing causes in rabbits are not known (Carman 1994) but weanlings are most frequently affected. Symptoms include acute depression, watery diarrhoea and a high mortality rate) or chronic weight loss.  Post-mortem findings include dehydration, oedema of the intestinal wall, necrosis of the colonic and caecal mucosa, and occasionally many necrotic foci in the liver. Treatment is not generally recommended but may be attempted (tetracyclines).  The disease has also been reported under circumstances which suggested that it may be spread by wild mice (MAFF monthly report 080892).

Tyzzer's disease is caused by the obligatory intracellular ''Clostridium (formerly Bacillus) piliformis'', a gram-variable organism diagnosed on post-mortem examination by histopathology utilising Giemsa or Warthin-Starry staining techniques (Walden 1990). The organism may be seen on impression smears of the ileum lining (see Okerman 1994). The organism does not grow on broth or agar. Predisposing causes in rabbits are not known (Carman 1994) but weanlings are most frequently affected.  

Salmonellosis due to Salmonella typhimurium has been recorded as manifesting a severe enteritis in baby rabbits. Clinical signs include depression, fever, +/- diarrhoea, abortion (Okerman 1994). Salmonellosis is a zoonosis.

Symptoms include acute depression, watery diarrhoea and a high mortality rate) or chronic weight loss. Post-mortem findings include dehydration, oedema of the intestinal wall, necrosis of the colonic and caecal mucosa, and occasionally many necrotic foci in the liver.  

Pseudotuberculosis (syn: rodentiosis) is not just a condition of the gastrointestinal tract. Infection with Yersinia pseudotuberculosis as a result of direct or indirect contact with infected rodents or wild birds is encountered occasionally.  The provision of freshly gathered wild plants or unwashed vegetables must be considered as a source of infection.  Clinical signs include cachexia with an enlarged spleen being detected on abdominal palpation. Diagnosis is usually made on post-mortem examination, the organism being isolated from the typical lesions  -  necrotic foci in the lymphoid tissue of the spleen, caecum and ileo-caecal.  Treatment and prevention of spread of the infection to contact animals is by the use of oral fluoroquinolones. Further prevention is via rodent control.  

Treatment is not generally recommended but may be attempted (tetracyclines).  The disease has also been reported under circumstances which suggested that it may be spread by wild mice (MAFF monthly report 080892).

Synopsis of treatment for enterotoxaemia and bacterial enteritis

• Warmth up to 27°C

• Fluid therapy  

 

• Hartmann’s is probably better than dextrose-containing fluids (Clostridial toxins “feed” on monosaccharides)  

• intravenous or intraosseous.  

• Maintenance = 100ml/kg/day

• Analgesia  

 

• buprenorphine 0.01 - 0.05 mg/kg sc/iv q8h,

==Synopsis of treatment for enterotoxaemia and bacterial enteritis==

• butorphanol 0.1-0.5mg/kg sc/iv q2-4h

*Warmth up to 27°C

• carprofen 2-4mg/kg q24h

*Fluid therapy  

• Cholestyramine resin  (Questran,  Bristol-Myers Pharmaceuticals) 2g in 20ml water p/o q24h - rabbit must be well-hydrated because the same chain of events occur when ispaghula husk (psyllium) is given to rabbits – see notes on anatomy and physiology of the digestive tract – page 3.

**Hartmann’s is probably better than dextrose-containing fluids (Clostridial toxins “feed” on monosaccharides)  

• Antibiotics are indicated if it is a true bacterial enteritis but should be avoided if Salmonbella sp is isolated.

**intravenous or intraosseous.  

• Probiotics. Lactobacillus spp are claimed to attach to mucosa and compete with pathogenic bacteria.  

**maintenance = 100ml/kg/day

• Transfaunation  

*Analgesia  

• Caecotrophs collected from a healthy rabbit  

**buprenorphine  

• Elizabethan collars  

**butorphanol  

• Fed whole to maintain the protective mucus coating  

**carprofen  

• Rabbits with diarrhoea should never be starved

*Cholestyramine resin  (Questran,  Bristol-Myers Pharmaceuticals) - rabbit must be well-hydrated because the same chain of events occur when ispaghula husk (psyllium) is given to rabbits (see anatomy and physiology of the digestive tract).

• Ad lib hay and leafy greens. Dandelions, parsley, freshly pulled (not cut) grass and groundsel

*Antibiotics are indicated if it is a true bacterial enteritis but should be avoided if ''Salmonbella'' sp. is isolated.

• Assisted feeding – commercial high fibre products for herbivores are available (eg). Most rabbits will accept food orally may be necessary.  

*Probiotics. ''Lactobacillus'' spp are claimed to attach to mucosa and compete with pathogenic bacteria.  

• Vitamin C at 50-100mg/kg sid-bid po may be of use in limiting the absorption of iota toxins and improving mucosal integrity  

*Transfaunation  

• Oxbow Critical care for herbivores,  

**Caecotrophs collected from a healthy rabbit  

• Supreme Recovery Diet via a syringe or nasogastric intubation - 10-20ml/kg q8-12h

**Elizabethan collars  

**Fed whole to maintain the protective mucus coating  

*Rabbits with diarrhoea should never be starved

**Ad lib hay and leafy greens. Dandelions, parsley, freshly pulled (not cut) grass and groundsel

**Assisted feeding – commercial high fibre products for herbivores are available (eg). Most rabbits will accept food orally may be necessary.  

**Vitamin C may be of use in limiting the absorption of iota toxins and improving mucosal integrity  

**Oxbow Critical care for herbivores,

**Supreme Recovery Diet via a syringe or nasogastric intubation