Winter prevention methods for rabbit Bordetella bronchiseptica disease

Rabbit Bordetella bronchiseptica disease, also called rabbit bronchial septic Bordetella bronchiseptica disease, is a common respiratory infectious disease of rabbits caused by Bordetella bronchiseptica. The disease is characterized by chronic rhinitis, bronchopneumonia and pharyngitis.

This disease occurs frequently in autumn and winter and early spring. It is mainly spread through the air and infects via the respiratory tract. The incidence rate is high in young rabbits, and there are fatal cases. Adult rabbits are less commonly affected. This bacterium contaminates 64.4% of group@#@248@#@ and 20% of free-range rabbits. Under natural conditions, this bacterium is parasitic in the upper respiratory tract of many kinds of mammals, often causing mutual infection of chronic respiratory diseases. Especially when the weather changes suddenly, the resistance of rabbits decreases, the rabbit house sanitation is poor, and the air is foul, this disease can be caused.

1 Symptoms

The incubation period of this disease is 7-10 d. Adult rabbits show rhinitis and bronchitis. There is a large amount of serous and mucous nasal discharge. If rhinitis does not heal for a long time, mucous or purulent secretions flow from the nasal cavity, with sneezing, difficulty breathing, loss of appetite, emaciation, etc. Young rabbits mostly have an acute course; after rhinitis symptoms first appear, they show difficulty breathing and die quickly, with a disease course of 2-3 d.

2 Necropsy

The main lesions of this disease are rhinitis, purulent rhinotracheitis, and purulent bronchopneumonia, with septicemic changes in some cases. The nasal cavity and tracheal mucosa are congested and edematous. There are serous, mucous or mucopurulent secretions in the nasal cavity. Bronchopneumonic lesions are seen from around the hilar bronchi to the edge of the lungs. The lesions are mostly seen in the cardiac lobe and apical lobe; in severe cases, they involve the entire lung lobe. The affected areas are raised, hard, dark red, brown, and then grayish yellow. In some cases, there are abscesses of varying sizes on the lungs. In severe cases, they account for more than 90% of the lungs. In some cases, there are abscesses the size of a soybean to a broad bean on the surface of the liver. After the abscesses rupture, thick creamy milky-white pus can be seen. Pericarditis, pleurisy, thoracic empyema and muscle abscesses are also seen.

3 Diagnosis

A preliminary diagnosis can be made based on clinical symptoms and necropsy changes. However, bacteriological examination must be carried out to find the pathogen before a final diagnosis can be made.

3.1 Take respiratory secretions or lesion tissue smears, stain with Gram stain, and examine under a microscope; Gram-negative small bacilli can be seen; if stained with methylene blue and examined under a microscope, pleomorphic small bacilli with bipolar staining can be seen.

3.2 Serological examination can use the plate agglutination test, agar immunodiffusion test, etc. Plate agglutination test: on a clean glass slide, add 1 drop of bacterial suspension (250 billion bacteria per 1 ml), then add 1 drop of the serum to be tested, mix thoroughly, and react at 20-25°C for 2-5 min; the appearance of granular floccules with clear liquid is positive.

4 Prevention and treatment

4.1 For treatment, first isolate the diseased rabbits, then carry out treatment. Commonly used drugs include gentamicin, erythromycin, tetracycline, kanamycin and sulfonamides. (1) Gentamicin, intramuscular injection, 1-2 units, twice daily. (2) Sulfadimidine 0.1 g/kg feed, fed orally. (3) Sulfathiazole sodium 0.06-0.1 g dissolved in 1000 ml of water for drinking. However, the treatment effect on rabbits with the pustular type is poor, and they should be culled.

4.2 Strengthen management and do a good job in the sanitation and disinfection of the rabbit house. The rabbit house should be well ventilated and maintain suitable temperature and humidity. Tools, rabbit cages, work clothes, etc. in the house should be disinfected regularly. Regularly kill insects, eliminate rats, and cull diseased rabbits and positive rabbits. Adhere to the breeding method of self-breeding and self-raising, and try not to introduce new rabbits from other farms; when introduction is necessary, quarantine work should be done well to strictly control infection.

4.3 In addition to the above work, regular immunization injections of vaccine for rabbits should also be maintained.