Exam 1: Infectious Diseases of Small Mammals

how is Pasterurella multocida described in rabbits

• aka snuffles

• most common respiratory pathogen but also normal flora

• transmitted via aerosol, direct, veneral, pregnancy, fomites

• strains vary in pathogenicity

what are the clinical signs of Pasteurella multocida in rabbits

• URTD- rhinitis, sinusitis, nasal discharge, sneezing, conjunctivitis, wet legs from drainage

• Otitis- middle ear to inner ear: ataxia, head tilt, facial nerve paralysis

• bacteremia and abscesses- fever, acute generalizes, abscesses anywhere in body

how is respiratory disease diagnosed in rabbits

• CBC for leukocytosis

• rads/CT/otoscopic exaam for middle and inner ear

• ± culture, PCR

how is Encephalitozoon cuniculi described in rabbits

• 50-70% in captivity

• oblicage intracellular microsporidian-fungal

• urine and respiratory secretions

• suppurative granulomatous meningoencephalomyelitis in the CNS, eyes lungs, liver, kidneys

• d-x with serology

what are the common parasites of rabbits

• psoroptes cuniculi → non-burrowing ear mites

• Cheyletiella parasitovorax → non-burrowing mite, zoonotic

• fleas (no frontline!!)

• myiasis → maggots, cuterebra

what is rabbit hemorrhagic disease RHDV

• bunny Ebola

• shed in feces, respiratory secretions, transmitted through direct contact, fomites, vectors

• hepatic necrosis, DIC, 100% mortality

• vaccine in USA

What is Treponema cuniculi in rabbits

• Rabbit syphilus

• bacterial pathogen

• crusted lesions on muco-cutaneous junctions → nasal-oral cavity, peri-ocular, eyelids, ano-genital region

• direct and indirect transmission

• may be subclinical carriers

what is the etiology and transmission of Epizzotic Catarrhal enteritis in ferrets

• green slime disease

• ferret enteric coronavirus

• typically comes from asymptomatic juvenile ferret (history of new introduction) → direct, fomites, shedding up to 6 mth

• high morbidity, low mortality

what are the clinical signs and diagnosis of ECE in ferrets

• severe green diarrhea

• dehydration

• bruxism

• vomiting

• history, clinical signs, PE, ± PCR

what are the causes and signs of gastric ulcers in ferrets

• stress, Helicobacter mustela

• anorexia, bruxism, hypersalivation, melena, vomiting

how are gastric ulcers in ferrets diagnosed

• history and clinical signs

• ± fecal occult

what are the signs of heartworm disease in ferrets

• sudden collapse

• exercise intolerance

• weakness, lethargy

• dyspnea, tachypnea

how is ferret heartworms diagnosed

• rads

• US

• HW antibody tests for cats

• HW antigen tests for dogs

• circulating microfilaria is rare

what mites are hedgehogs prone to

• Caparinia tripilis → macroscopic, covers large surface of body, pruritis, quill loss, anorexia

• Chorioptes sp

• sarcoptes sp

• demodex erinacei

• skin scrape

what are the clinical signs of respiratory disease in rats

• Mycoplasma pulmonis

• acute or chronic dyspnea and or tachypnea

• respiratory noises

• sneezing

• nasal discharge that is clear to mildly cloudy

how is respiratory disease in rats diagnosed

• rads

• resp panels available but expensive

• culture and sensitivit

what are the common respiratory diseases in guinea pigs

• Bordetella bronchiseptica → passed from rabbits

• streptococcus spp → human ?