Bacteriological and Serological Studies on <I>Pasteurella multocida</I> Infection in Rabbits

Abstract

Bacteriological and serological examinations were made on Pasteurella multocida infection in two rabbit-breeding colonies.The organism was localized in the paranasal sinuses of 53 of 54 infected rabbits, excreting to the external nares of 49 rabbits.It was also isolated from the trachea and middle and inner ear of half of the infected animals and occasionally from the conjunctiva, lung and heart.The infection rate of the organism was very low (4.30) in sucklings younger than a month old, but increased with advancing age, reaching nearly 100% in adults more than five months of age. A rapid increase of the infection rate was observed at two to three months of age. Serum antibody against somatic antigen of P. multocida was demonstrated in infected rabbits by use of the tube agglutination test, showing a close correlation with isolation of the organism in adults. Sucklings younger than one month of age from infected dams were significantly resistant to experimental nasal infection of P. multocida.

Human infections associated with Bordetella bronchiseptica.

“…In a situation analogous to the developments in swine atrophic rhinitis, B. bronchiseptica was thought to be the probable cause of snuffles, otitis media, and tracheal bronchitis in rabbits and guinea pigs (64,78,106,151,152,167,168). Evidence now indicates that P. multocida is the major pathogen, with B. bronchiseptica possibly playing an inducing or opportunistic role (36,39,40,117).…”

Human infections associated with Bordetella bronchiseptica

“…Evidence now indicates that P. multocida is the major pathogen, with B. bronchiseptica possibly playing an inducing or opportunistic role (36,39,40,117 Cases with Verified B. bronchiseptica Identification As the result of a motorcycle accident, a 26-year-old male (case 1) suffered a C-4 vertebral fracture with trauma to the cervical spinal cord, producing an acute quadriplegia with some preservation of upper extremity motor function. On return to the surgical intensive care unit after an emergency decompression of the spinal cord, he was noted to be gagging and was thought to have aspirated gastric contents.…”

Pasteurella multocida and Bordetella bronchiseptica infections in rabbits

“…Nakagawa et al (19) also showed that serum antibodies, detected by tube agglutination, were strongly correlated with isolation of P. multocida from adults but not rabbits <2 months old. Among 47 rabbits 5 to 6 months old that were negative for P. multocida by nasal culture, Holmes et al (14) detected 15 that were seropositive by enzyme immunoassay.…”

“…Nakagawa et al Immunoglobulin levels in weanling rabbits with and without P. multocida infection. (19) reported that infection with P. multocida increased from 4.3% in preweanlings to almost 100% in adults. DiGiacomo et al (6) reported that infection with P. multocida increased from 4% in 12-week-old rabbits to 23% in 22-week-old rabbits and that 72% of adults had infection.…”

“…The sites of localization of P. multocida and B. bronchiseptica in the respiratory tract may aid in understanding the development of disease in rabbits. The predilection of B. bronchiseptica for the trachea and bronchi (25) and of P. multocida for the nares, paranasal sinuses, and middle ears in adults (14,19,22,25,27) has been noted. B. bronchiseptica adheres preferentially to ciliated mucosal cells (18,24) and thus resists respiratory clearance.…”