Salmonellosis in Rabbits

Rabbit production has become increasingly popular among African farmers. Rabbit is reared for the meat, the fur and for pet purposes.
Rabbit droppings and urine are among the best manure for most crop production.
It is therefore essential that a rabbit farmer gets himself acquainted with knowledge of some diseases that may lead to losses in his farm.

Salmonella organisms are responsible for Salmonellosis in rabbits.

These organisms are mainly foodborne and are transmitted by ingestion through direct contact with contaminated feces, food or other material.

Salmonellosis is usually a rare disease in rabbits but when it occurs it happens as an outbreak leading to high mortality.

Clinical Signs

Acute disease is characterized by loss of appetite , fever, signs of dehydration,
diarrhea with or without blood stains, and death.
Salmonellosis in rabbits is more of a septicaemic infection rather than diarrhea.

Salmonellosis causes abortion in pregnant rabbits.
Rabbits that recover from acute disease remain carriers and are capable of contaminating the environment again.

Treatment

The rabbit get infected usually through the human attendant. Unhygienic hands used to handle and feed the animals.

Treatment is usually difficult when symptoms appear.

Consult your veterinarian and he might give fluid therapy to handle the dehydration , anti-endotoxic treatments, aggressive antibiotic treatment .

Best prevention is improved hygiene.