Control of Pasteurella multocida infections in a small rabbit colony

SUMMARY Clinical pasteurellosis was eliminated by administration of sulphamezathine in the drinking water (0'13 %) to pregnant females for 4 days before the expected date of parturition. 39 Pasteurella multocida infections were found to be causing problems in a small rabbit colony breeding 200 rabbits per annum. Of the first 20 does culled from the colony, 9 were culled because of Pasteurella infection, either mastitis, snuffles, otitis media or pyometron. Intermittent losses from pneumonia also occurred in sucking and recently weaned rabbits, caused by Pasteurella multocida. Following a report by Smith, Cross & Parker (1969) on the control of Pasteurella pneumonia in lambs using prenatal medication of the ewe with sulphamezathine, prekindling medication was commenced in the rabbit colony. The pregnant does were given medicated water (0·13 % sulphamezathine) commencing 4 days prior to the expected parturition date ad libitum. Does were not allowed access to other water in this period, to ensure intake of the medicated water. Medication was removed when the doe kindled. Since these control measures were instituted no further cases of otitis media, snuffles or pyometron have been seen. A further outbreak of mastitis did occur, associated with a change in staff servicing the colony. Investigation revealed that does were gaining access to non-medicated water in the prekindling period and were not drinking the medicated water. After this was corrected, no further cases were observed. Hagen (1966) used medication of the food in an attempt to control Pasteurella multocida infection. Sulphamezathine medicated feed (100 g/ton food) reduced neither pneumonia deaths nor Pasteurellaisolations. In a second observation (Hagen, 1967), sulphamezathine reduced Pasteurella isolations from mature animals.