Sara, escrevo-te aqui também para que as pessoas possam saber a resposta ao teu post.
A Sara já me disse, por email, que o veterinário tinha diagnosticado uma pastereula aos dois fofinhos dela.
Assim, para que ajuda alguém no futuro, vou colocar aqui uns links sobre Pasteurela. Curiosamente, o meu Gaspar (rest in peace) também teve pasteurela e manifestou-se exactamente como nos fofinhos da Sara: após uma vacina.
A maior parte dos links que tenho são em inglês: quem precisar de traduções escreva-me para
[email protected] que eu tento fazê-las.
Introdução ao assunto (vão ver ao link porque não posso colocar aqui, teria de pedir autorização neste caso)
http://www.rabbit.org/chapters/san-dieg ... rella.html
The other big group of medical problems in rabbits is related to the bacterial organism, Pasteurella multocida. The group of diseases caused by this organism is called pasteurellosis. This bacterium can cause "snuffles," an upper respiratory disease that not only results in nasal discharge, but may also infect and erode the bones and structures of the rabbit's head. Pasteurella multocida may also cause abscesses in various areas of the body, lung and heart (specifically, pericarditis) problems.
Pasteurella can be serotyped to further identify the bacterium; different strains have different abilities to cause disease. They may produce endotoxins (poisons contained within the bacterial cells) that cause fever, depression and shock. Pasteurellosis can be diagnosed by a combination of the history, clinical signs, radiographs and perhaps other tests. While it is possible to culture the bacterium and perform antibiotic sensitivities, this organism can be fussy and hard to grow in a lab, and may not survive transfer from the rabbit to the lab. Other rests include a Pasteurella titer, which may be difficult to interpret, as one positive test only shows that the rabbit has been exposed to the organism. It usually takes a second titer, run two to three weeks after the first, to show if the rabbit has an active infection. A newer test is called a DNA PCR, and this test is very accurate. A swab is taken of a suspected pasteurellosis lesion, and sent to a lab where they will amplify a portion of the DNA of the organism, and then identify it. Since it doesn't require live organisms to grow, it can pick up cases that cultures can miss.
Pasteurellosis in rabbits may present as upper respiratory disease (inflamed nostrils, sinusitis, tear duct infection, inflammation of the conjunctiva of the eye), ear infections, pneumonia, bacteria in the bloodstream, abscesses in the subcutaneous tissues, internal organs, bones, joints or genitalia.
Pasteurella is easily transmitted by aerosol (sneezing) from infected rabbits, direct contact or by infected objects (such as toys, food and water dishes, etc.) The bacteria may also be transmitted from a doe to her kits at birth. Primarily, Pasteurella enters the rabbit's body through the nares or through wounds. Once established in the nasal passages, the bacteria can spread to other organs through the bloodstream.
If the organism spreads to the middle ear, inner ear or brain, it can cause a head tilt, walking difficulty and other signs of dizziness. Treat may be attempted, based on culturing and sensitivity, or by PCR testing. Antibiotic treatment may eliminate the infection in some cases, but in most cases, medication may only control the disease, but not eliminate it. Controlling the infections may also require adjunct therapy, such as eye drops.
A rabbit with pasteurellosis should be kept on a good diet and remain free from stress or extreme changes in temperature. Affected bunnies should also be kept very clean, and housed in well-ventilated quarters.
in
http://www.exoticpetvet.net/smanimal/rabbit.html
Pasteurellosis
Pasteurella multocida is a gram-negative short rod that is almost ubiquitous in the nasopharynx of pet rabbits. Animals can be symptomless carriers, have subclinical disease, or overt disease which is often stress-related. Rabbits develop little immunity after infection with this bacterium and thus are unable to mount an appropriate immune response. The prevalence of asymptomatic carriers is high (approximately 30-90% of apparently healthy rabbits).The classic clinical manifestation is upper respiratory tract disease ("snuffles") with a serous or whitish yellow mucopurulent nasal and ocular discharge. Crusting is often seen on the inner aspect of the front legs as the rabbit attempts to clean away the discharge. Rhinitis and sinusitis are present, and in chronic case there is turbinate erosion and atrophy.
Other clinical manifestations include:
pneumonia
pleuritis
otitis media and interna
conjunctivitis and dacryocystitis
Pasteurella can also cause septicaemia, abscesses, pericarditis, osteomyelitis, metritis, mastitis, orchitis, and epidymitis.
Transmission is mainly by direct contact with nasal secretions from infected rabbits and may be greatest when rhinitis induces sneezing and aerosolization of secretions. The bacteria can survive for days in moist secretions or water. P. multocida gains entry to the respiratory tract primarily through the nares, and once infection is established, may colonize also the paranasal sinuses, middle ears, lacrimal ducts, thoracic organs, and genitalia. Occasionally rabbits harbor chronic infections of internal tissues or organs, such as middle ears or lungs, without any signs of rhinitis and are negative for P. multocida by nasal culture.
P. multocida is often endemic in rabbit colonies and the acquisition of infection in young rabbits is correlated to the prevalence in adult rabbits. If young rabbits are removed early from infected adults, the chance of infection for the young decreases.
Colonisation and disease is influenced by factors related to both host and pathogen. Different strains of P. multocida have been isolated from rabbits. They are classified by capsular type and serotype; A:12 is the most common in rabbits in the U.S., but A:3 and other A and D serotypes exist. More severe disease has been associated with A:3 and D strains. Bacterial capsular polysaccharides are important in inhibiting phagocytosis; lipopolysaccharides confer resistance to complement and bactericidal activity of serum. Pili (fimbria), which are filamentous appendages elaborated by bacteria, have receptors that may help P. multocida stick to and colonize mucous membranes .Toxin production is another factor which influences virulence; toxin produced by bacteria can cause disease by itself and in sites removed from where the bacteria reside. This has been shown with purified toxin from P. multocida . A syndrome of atrophic rhinitis or degeneration of the nasal turbinates has been associated with toxin-producing strains of P. multocida in rabbits. Both capsular types D and A have been shown to produce toxin. Preexisting or simultaneous infections with other respiratory bacteria such as Bordetella bronchiseptica (often a commensal), may influence the ability of P. multocida to colonize and debilitate the tissues .
Ability of the rabbit to resist P. multocida infection depends, in part, on health of the exposed mucosa, and probably on rapid production of mucosal antibodies (IgA) which will inhibit growth of the bacteria. High levels of humoral antibodies (IgG) are not associated with elimination of infection but rather with chronic infection. Thus measurement of P. multocida IgG antibodies in serum is helpful in detecting infections inaccessible to culture in the live rabbit. Attempts to induce immunity and protection using bacterins, potassium thiocyanate extracts or attenuated live bacteria have failed to prevent pasteurellosis over time. However, some unvaccinated, untreated rabbits exposed to P. multocida resist infection altogether and of those with infection a significant number resist disease.
Dacryocystitis and blockage of the nasolacrimal duct requires cannulation and flushing of the duct. This is easily achieved under sedation and with the application of local anaesthetic to the eye. Packing the nasolachrymal duct with Fucithalmic Ointment (Leo) may be of benefit due to its persistance. There is however an interesting caveat to the Pasteurella story – in a recent survey of fifty-six rabbits exhibiting superficial ocular infections, and from which 98 swabs were submitted, the following results were obtained: -
Staphylococcus spp 27% of all isolates.
Pasteurella spp 14% of all isolates. Only 3 (5%) were P. multocida
Acinetobacter spp 14% of all isolates.
Pseudomonas spp 7% . P. aeruginosa was isolated once (2%)
Enterobacter spp 5%
Branhamella catarrhalis 3%
Corynebacterium spp 5%
Proteus spp 3%
Another nine organisms were isolated once only. In 28 (50%) of rabbits, dental disease was recorded. This may suggest a change in the ocular bacterial flora, possibly due to changing husbandry practices, or it may be a reflection of the importance of underlying predisposing factors such as dental disease allowing secondary colonisation by a variety of commensals.
Less commonly, epiphora occurs when too many tears are produced for the system to handle - entropion and distichiais may be commoner than we think.
Treatment is difficult, and complete elimination of the organism is rarely achieved in practice. The underlying stressor should be addressed, (eg poor ventilation and ammonia build-up, overcrowding, bullying) and systemic antibiosis based on culture and sensitivity testing should be instituted. An extended course (6-8 weeks) is often required. In severe cases, supportive therapy will also be required (fluids, mucolytics, oxygen, nutritional support).
10 Practical Points about Pasteurella multocida in Rabbits
1. Not all rabbits carry P. multocida although insofar as UK pet rabbits is concerned one should regard it as probably ubiquitous.
2. If removed from sources of infection early, a rabbit may never acquire P. multocida infection.
3. Not all rabbits with P. multocida become ill - subclinical infections.
4. P. multocida is still the most common cause of respiratory disease, primarily rhinitis, in rabbits.
5. Some P. multocida strains are more virulent than others, but most clinical laboratories cannot differentiate strains.
6. Chronic infection and disease can occur in areas of the body inaccessible to culture.
7. Hidden infections sometimes may be detected by radiology, or serology.
8. Some rabbits are able to resist or clear mild infection without treatment.
9. Rabbits with disease due to P. multocida infection should be treated with appropriate antibiotics.
10. Some rabbits with chronic infections or deep abscesses may not improve but be stabilized with antibiotics. Many owners are willing to use antibiotics on a long term basis.
in
http://www.aquavet.i12.com/Rabbit.htm
Information for Vets
PASTEURELLA
by Virginia Richardson MA VetMB, MRCVS
The bacterium Pasteurella multocida is the most ubiquitous bacterium in the rabbit, and is responsible for many infections in multiple sites. The most well recognised is infection of the respiratory system, referred to as ‘snuffles’. However Pasteurella can be cultured from skin abscesses, infections of the genito-urinary tract, and in cases of middle/inner ear infection.
Pasteurellosis
The disease caused depends upon the virulence of the strain involved, and the resistance of the host. The classical clinical signs of rhinitis (‘snuffles’) are not seen in rabbits under twelve weeks of age due to the presence of maternal antibodies for the first eight weeks in endemic groups, and due to the fact that the nasal sinuses of the young rabbit are insufficiently developed to allow colonisation of the bacteria. The simultaneous presence of Bordetella bronchiseptica in the sinuses facilitates Pasteurella colonisation.
Not all rabbits that carry Pasteurella become ill. Some may spontaneously eliminate the infection, whilst others may become chronic carriers. Healthy rabbits housed with infected rabbits may not get the disease if their resistance is good. Pasteurellosis tends to be a disease of intensively housed rabbits, and is less of a problem in house rabbits.
Clinical Signs
The classic symptoms are rhinitis, conjunctivitis, sinusitis, and dacrocystitis (the complex referred to as ‘snuffles’). The affected rabbit has a white discharge from its nose, and the fur on the medial aspect of the forelegs will be matted and sticky where it wipes its nose. Other symptoms are otitis media and otitis interna (causing ‘head tilt’, nystagmus and ataxia), pleuropneumonia, pericarditis and tooth root abscesses. Symptoms of lower respiratory tract infection are anorexia, weight loss, depression and fatigue, with dyspnoea on exertion. These symptoms can occur in the absence of any upper respiratory tract infection. The prognosis for dyspnoeic rabbits is poor. Abscesses can also form in distant sites causing testicular abscesses, endometritis, and pyometra. Septicaemia caused by Pasteurella is one of the commonest causes of sudden death, which may occur following stress, with few preceding clinical signs.
Transmission
The most common form of transmission is by direct contact, and by aeriolisation of the bacteria. The bacteria can survive for several days in moist secretions and water. Indirect spread can occur via bowls and drinkers contaminated by nasal secretions. Rabbits can only sneeze to a distance of 6 feet, and aeriolisation can occur over this distance. The bacteria enter through the nares or through open wounds. The infection then spreads to neighbouring tissues, or to distant sites haematogenously. Infection travels from the nares to the middle ear via the Eustachian tube. Rarely the bacterium can be transferred at mating, or parturition.
Diagnosis
Nasal swabs of rabbits with ‘snuffles’ may reveal Pasteurella. However, in the case of infection at distant sites nasal culture may be negative. Pasteurella can also be cultured from the respiratory tracts of healthy rabbits. Serology (ELISA) can be done. A high antibody titre may imply a chronic carrier state rather than the elimination of infection, so the results of serology and culture must be assessed alongside the clinical signs. Radiography may be necessary to determine the extent of respiratory disease. In cases of otitis the tympanic bullae which are normally thin-walled and hollow develop an increased soft tissue opacity and thicker walls. Post-mortem examination of cases of sudden death associated with Pasteurella have petichiation and microscopic abscesses throughout the viscera.
Treatment
It is not usually possible to cure infected rabbits, but it may be possible to stabilise them with antibiotics so that they can live with chronic disease. Antibiotics are frequently needed for long periods, often as long as 6 months to a year. A culture should be done where possible, Pasteurella is generally sensitive to enrofloxacin, chloramphenicol, gentamycin, tetracycline and trimethoprim-sulpha drugs. Enrofloxacin is the drug of choice for long term medication, and can be given initially at a dose of 5-15mg/kg twice daily, and then given orally at 10mg/kg daily, or via the drinking water at a concentration of 50-100mg/litre.
Severe cases can be given procaine penicillin at a dose of 20,000-60,000 i.u. daily for 5 days by intramuscular injection. Other drugs that can be used as an adjunct to therapy are analgesics (NSAID), antihistamines (Benadryl), and mentholated vapour rubs to ease congestion. Eye preparations containing antibiotic can also be used. Gentacin can be used as ear or nasal drops as indicated.
Fluids are important, and can be given subcutaneously at a rate of 100ml/kg/day in debilitated rabbits. The fluids will help hydrate the mucus produced by the nasal epithelium and facilitate its excretion. A good diet is very important, and the addition of vitamin C may improve recovery. The rabbit should be kept at a constant environmental temperature of 16 degrees C, with a relative humidity between 50-70%.
Prevention
Good husbandry is very important. A good diet of hay and fresh greens will protect against infection by improving the rabbit’s host resistance. In a group where Pasteurella is endemic, early weaning at 4-5 weeks will remove the young before they become infected. However weaning at this time can be stressful. If weaning later, antibiotics can be given over the time of weaning, and tetracycline can be given in the drinking water at a dilution of 1mg/ml.
Rabbits cannot sneeze over a distance of 6 feet, and where possible cages should be distanced away from each other to prevent spread by aeriolisation. Vaccination with a sheep vaccine may help control the disease, but will not cure it. Pastacidin (Hoechst Roussel Vet Ltd) contains killed bacterial cells of Pasteurella. A dose of 0.25-0.5ml (young rabbits) or 0.5-1ml (adults) can be given by subcutaneous injection, and repeated after 2-3 weeks. Females can be boosted just before mating so that they will confer maternal immunity to their young for the first 8 weeks of life. Young rabbits can be given their first injection after weaning. Males can be given a booster every 6 months. Vaccination is good at stimulating a non-specific immunity and may give the rabbit a better resistance against other infections.
Ed’s Note: The homoeopathic remedy Pasteurella multocida (30c) may be given orally or in the water and is available from Bunny Buys
in
http://www.therabbitcharity.freeserve.c ... rella.html
A. Pasteurellosis
1. Etiology: Pasteurella multocida, a Gram negative, bipolar staining bacillus
2. General: Pasteurellosis is a major disease problem in the rabbit. In conventional, non-barrier maintained rabbitries, over 50% and up to 70% of the animals may harbor the organism in the upper respiratory tract and tympanic bullae. P. multocida causes a variety of clinical syndromes including chronic rhinitis (snuffles), otitis media, pneumonia (chronic purulent bronchopneumonia to acute fibrinous pneumonia), infections of the genital tract, abscessation, conjunctivitis and septicemia. There is a seasonal influence as most problems occur in the spring and fall. Concurrent infections with Bordatella bronchiseptica may occur; however, P. multocida is considered to be the primary pathogen. Predisposing factors include increased atmospheric ammonia, pregnancy, concomitant disease, environmental disturbances and experimental manipulation.
3. Transmission: Direct contact with animals shedding the organism from nasal or vaginal secretions. Sucking rabbits can be infected within the first week of life from nursing carrier does. Aerosols do not appear to be an important means of spread. Using a modified barrier system, rabbits can be maintained free of the organism even when housed in the same facility housing infected rabbits in other areas. Fomites may be involved; however, a large number of organisms are required for infection. Interspecies transmission has been experimentally reproduced.
4. Pathogenesis: The upper respiratory tract is regarded as the primary nidus of infection. The organism then spreads to other tissues; for example, to the lower respiratory tract by aerogenous routes; to the middle ear via the eustachian tube; hematogenously; local extension; and to the external genital tract by venereal spread or nasal inoculation. Some mucoid variants (have a hyaluronic acid capsule) of serotype A resist phagocytosis. Virulent type A strains also have the ability to adhere to mucosal epithelium, which is apparently mediated by fimbriae. Other mucoid variants as well as smooth variants (serotype D) are phagocytosed but resist killing. Some isolates of serotype D have been reported to produce a heat labile, dermonecrotic toxin, but the contribution of this toxin to the strain’s virulence is not known. Experimentally, it has been shown that P. multocida increases expression of vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 by aortic endothelium.
5. Clinical signs: Variable depending on the type of syndrome. May include chronic snuffles, purulent conjunctivitis, localized abscesses, respiratory difficulty, infertility and sudden death.
6. Gross lesions:
a. Catarrhal to mucopurulent rhinitis
b. Atrophic rhinitis
c. Otitis media – dull yellow to gray viscous exudate in tympanic bullae
d. Chronic pneumonia –localized consolidation of the anteroventral lobes and atelectasis
e. Acute fibrinous pleuropneumonia – fibrinohemorrhagic lobar pneumonia and pleuritis; +/- pericarditis and/or pyothorax
f. Genital tract: pyometra, suppurative orchitis, abscesses, suppurative mastitis
g. Localized abscesses in the brain, myocardium, testes, muscle, subcutis, etc.
h. Peracute septicemia: congestion and hemorrhage
7. Histopathology:
a. Otitis media: squamous metaplasia of the lining epithelium with primarily heterophilic inflammation in the submucosa
b. Pneumonia: chronic bronchitis with peribronchial lymphocytic infiltration to alveolitis with primarily heterophilic infiltration. In the acute necrotizing form, there is destruction of alveoli and small airways, alveolar flooding with fibrinous exudate and erythrocytes and infiltration by large numbers of heterophils. Multinucleated giant cells may be present in affected alveoli.
c. Genital: acute, necrotizing transmural metritis and serositis. Suppurative orchitis with abscessation.
d. Septicemic: hemorrhage, variable thromboses of small vessels and focal degeneration of the liver and adrenal glands
e. Acute suppurative meningoencephalitis
8. Diagnosis: Confirm by bacterial culture
9. Differential diagnosis: Bordatellosis, Stapylococcosis, and infection with Klebsiella pneumoniae
10. Control: Cull infected animals, good ventilation, establish a SPF colony, barrier housing, prophylactic antibiotic therapy and treatment of clinically affected animals. It may be difficult to cull all carriers because of false
negative cultures.
in
http://www.afip.org/vetpath/POLA/99/PAT ... Wilber.htm
Estas informações são importantes sobretudo aos VETERINÁRIOS!!!!
Link IMPORTANTÍSSIMO no que diz respeito a coelhos
http://www.morfz.com/rabrefs.html
Sara, se puderes, imprime TUDO o que encontrares sobre pasteurella no link que acabei de incluir e dá ao teu veterinário, nem que seja à força!
. Isto começou há cerca de 2 dias num deles e ontem no outro. Já pesquisei na net clínicas de vets que possam tratar deles para amanhã entrar em contacto, mas como é Domingo pensei que talvez alguém me pudesse ajudar...