146 



Biological Therapy 



Hemorrhagic Septicemia in Rabbits 



(Snuffles) 



This acute disease of rabbits is usually enzootic but has 

 during the past few years assumed epizootic proportions and 

 is a troublesome factor in most large rabbitries. Veterinar- 

 ians are now frequently consulted regarding the control of 

 the disease. 



ETIOLOGY. While the exact cause of snuffles has 

 never been definitely ascertained it is generally agreed that 

 the bacillus bipolaris septicus (B. bipolaris cuniculum) is 

 responsible for the disease. Associated with this organism 

 although in a secondary manner are streptococcus and staph- 

 ylococcus. These are the only organisms isolated from 

 such cases with any degree of regularity. They may be iso- 

 lated from the heart blood, secretions and pathological le- 

 sions. Abscesses found throughout the body frequently yield 

 pure cultures of the bipolar organisms, although in chronic 

 cases staphylococci and streptococci are sometimes found in 

 such abscesses. 



SYMPTOMS: Usually the first symptoms observed are 

 a discharge from the nose and persistent sneezing. The 

 nasal discharge is usually watery, later becoming mucopu- 

 rulent and less profuse. The appetite gradually becomes 

 poor and the animal shows a rise in temperature. Many ani- 

 mals die showing no symptoms other than those already 

 mentioned. If the disease tends to chronicity, weakness and 

 emaciation become marked and the animal shows dyspnoea 

 and cough. Abscesses frequently appear in the submaxil- 

 lary region and occasionally in other parts of the body. Once 

 the disease appears, the case incidence is high and the dis- 

 ease spreads rapidly while the mortality may be 50 per cent 

 or higher. 



POST MORTEM LESIONS. The respiratory mucous 

 membranes, particularly the nasal passages, appear greatly 

 congested. The bronchi contain a mucous or a mucopuru- 

 lent exudate. The lungs show varying pathological lesions, 

 such as petechia, congestion, hepatization, lobar and lobular 

 pneumonia, frequently accompanied by pleurisy. An exten- 

 sive pericarditis develops as the disease progresses, while 

 abscesses of the myocardium are not uncommon. The ex- 

 cessive amount of fluid frequently found in either the thor- 

 acic or the peritoneal cavity is straw colored and quite 

 stringy or ropy. 



