STAPHYLOCOCCAL MASTITIS IN DOMESTIC RABBITS

Out of 8 governmental and private rabbit farms, three natural outbreaks of rabbit mastitis caused by Staphylococcus aureus (S.aureus) coagulase - positive were reported. In one of these farms (Newzealand White) the disease was characterized by swelling and redness of skin and mammary gland together with reduction of food intake, ruffled fur and 100% losses in suckling rabbits. While abscesses of the subcutaneous (S/C) tissues of abdomen and mammary gland were observed in the other 2 farms (Californian and Flemish) with losses in suckling rabbits of 30% and 50%, respectively. Six strains of B-hemolytic coagulase-positive S.aureus were isolated from infecting lactating does and their suckling rabbits.
one
isolate
documented its pathogenic
Experimental infection with nature to susceptible rabbits.
In vitro, chemotherapeutic sensitivity tests showed that all of the 6 isolates examined were highly sensitive to each of Penicillin and Ampicillin but non was sensitive to each of Cloxacillin, Colistin sulphate, Spectinomycin or compound Sulphonamide. Trial for treatment of infect ed cases was conducted by injection of Penicillin which gave a satisfac tory result.