Public health significance of otitis media in rabbits [electronic resource].

Includes references.

The total percentage of affected rabbits with otitis media among six rabbit breeding colonies were 40 out of 206 (19.4%). This affection was observed during summer season 2003. The microscopical examination of ear scrabings revealed demonstration of psoroptes mites (Psoroptes cuniculi) frequently, 28/40 (70%) of diseased cases. Bacterial examination of diseased cases showed staphylococcus areus 22/34 (64.7%). Another associating bacterial agents were Pasteurella multocida, 5/34 (14.7%), Bordetella bronchiseptica and Escherchia coli, 4/34 (11.8%). The surface protein patterns of whole cells of the isolates were studied using sodium dodecyle sulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Electrophoretic patterns showed complete similarity among staph. isolates especially higher molecular weight protein bands. Non of the staph. isolates were carrying plasmids, while Gram negative bacteria (P. multocida and E. coli) carrying single plasmid of the same molecular weight (3.5 Mda). Ciprofloxacin and enrofloxacin showed complete antimicrobial susceptibility among all tested bacterial species, followed by flumequine and lincospectin. Resistance was observed especially against ampicillin, sulfadimethoxine-trimethoprim and spectinomycin, while intermediate susceptibility was demonstrated with kitamox, gentamicin, exenel and amoxacillin. Ciprofloxacin which gave the best results at antimicrobial susceptibility testing was used for treatment of diseased rabbit colony. Ivermectine (single dose 500 µg/kg. b. w., SIC) was used with ciprofloxacin (15 mg/kg b.w.) in drinking water for 4 days gave complete recovery of causative parasitic and bacterial infection. Key words: Rabbits, Otitis media, Zoonoses.

Summary in Arabic.