Staphylococcosis in Rabbits and Rabbitries

Staphylococcal infections represent a major health and production problem in livestock and have a potential negative impact on public health. This chapter mainly focuses on the role of Staphylococcus aureus and its virulence in rabbits. S. aureus is a ubiquitous bacterium found in the environment and tegument of animals. The infection is mainly caused by high-virulent strains causing outbreaks and endemicity in rabbits of all ages. Direct and indirect contact with the bacterium allows colonization of the tegument and different rabbit organs in an ascending manner or septicemia of an initial focus. Suppurative dermatitis and subcutaneous abscesses, multisystemic abscessation, pododermatitis, purulent mastitis and metritis, and pneumonia are the prevalent clinical manifestations of the disease. The diagnosis is based on lesions and clinical signs followed by S. aureus identification and virulence typing. The success of treatment is mostly restricted to low-virulent S. aureus infections, as they usually affect only a few animals in rabbitries. The control of staphylococcosis is also based on sanitation measures and culling of affected animals, prioritizing those with suppurative lesions. Nevertheless, total depopulation and sanitary break measures are needed, such as incorporating non-carrier does and bucks to prevent high-virulent strains in affected rabbitries.