How to minimise the spread of Pasteurella
What is Pasteurella?
Pasteurella is the major infectious disease of rabbits caused
by the bacterium, Pasteurella multocida and may take many
different forms.
- Respiratory disease, including pneumonia and infection
of
the nasal passages and sinuses, is very common.
- Infections of the eye membranes, middle ear, jawbone and
uterus are most often the result of the Pasteurella organism.
- Abscesses are also common and occur when the Pasteurella
organism settles in a specific location
What are the symptoms?
The bacteria most often reside in the nose, lungs and eye
membranes, but can spread to other areas of the body.
The rabbit's body responds to this
invasion with an influx of tremendous numbers of white blood
cells to fight the infection. Pus results from the accumulation
of dead and dying white blood cells and tissue cells in the
area of the infection.
How do they get it?
It is most often transmitted among chronically infected does
and their litters or between breeding males and females.
Pasteurella infections may become incurable
if not correctly treated. Antibiotics are most effective if
administered early and can be less effective as the disease
becomes more acute as the abscesses develop with thick pus.
How can you prevent it?
Pasteurellosis can be a persistent problem and very difficult
to eradicate. This disease creates its most serious problems
under conditions of malnutrition, overcrowding, poor sanitation,
temperature extremes, inadequate air circulation and other
stressful situations.
Preventative infection control is without
doubt better than dealing with an outbreak of infection. Runs
and all hard surface areas should be thoroughly sprayed with
Small Mammal Viroklenz ™. Bedding and other surfaces
should be sprayed or wiped on a daily basis during an outbreak
or weekly as a preventative measure.
Small Mammal Viroklenz ™ is a highly
effective, broad-spectrum biocide that has been laboratory
tested and proven against Pasteurella and many, many other
bacteria and viruses that can cause problems to small mammals.
To be really safe we recommend that all
newly acquired pet rabbits, hamsters and guinea pigs should
be thoroughly examined by a vet as soon as possible after
purchase.
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