Analysis of the causes of the occurrence and measures of prevention of pododermatitis in rabbits
Authors: Peredera R. V. , Peredera O. O. 
Published: March 2024

The article presents the results of the analysis of the causes of occurrence and measures to prevent rabbit pododermatitis in private farms of the Poltava region. As a result of the conducted research, it was established that in 90 % of farms, most cases of rabbit pododermatitis were detected in the summer. In autumn, the number of cases decreased. According to the results of our observations, the conditions of maintenance and feeding had the greatest influence on the appearance and development of pododermatitis in the studied farms. Individual farms that were similar in terms of these parameters had similar dynamics of the development of this disease. Two factors that acted at the same time and influenced the development of pododermatitis the most: the temperature regime and the increase in humidity of the floor in the cage. The temperature regime depended on the seasonality and the method of maintenance. In the majority of farms, the temperature regime in autumn and spring exceeded the optimal values and amounted to 25–28 °С. The highest air temperature was recorded in June-August in farms where animals were kept indoors. The highest temperature was recorded on average from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. In some periods, it reached 29–32 °C. Air humidity, according to the results of our research, did not affect the development of pododermatitis in rabbits. The second factor that influenced the occurrence of pododermatitis in rabbits was the moisture of the floor (litter), which was associated with the introduction of green mass into the diet in May and lasted all summer and in the warm period of autumn. In those farms, where two factors were simultaneously acting: high temperature and high humidity of litter in cages, the total number of animals at the time of the outbreak was of little importance. Thus, according to observations, the number of sick rabbits in the summer months correlated with the total number of adult livestock in the farm, and was directly proportional to this indicator. No cases of pododermatitis were found in rabbits under the age of three months. Among the age group of rabbits aged 4–6 months, the average number of sick animals at the peak of the disease was 32 % in dysfunctional farms. The largest number of sick animals in such farms was counted in the group from six months to two years, and was 68 %. With the minimum number of livestock in January, no patients were detected in all studied farms during this period. With an increase in the number of livestock, an increase in the percentage of patients was recorded in the spring, which ranged from 1.6 % to 6.0 %. The highest percentage of animals with pododermatitis was found in farms where juicy green fodder was fed from the end of spring. The incidence of pododermatitis in such farms was 21–29 % in the summer months. In farms where animals were fed compound feed and hay, regardless of the season, the percentage of animals with pododermatitis was lower, and was 1.6–6.0 % in spring and 2.8–12.3 % in summer. The results of the study indicate that the microbial landscape from wounds caused by pododermatitis in rabbits is significantly different from the microflora of the skin of the soles of healthy animals from prosperous farms. According to the results of bacteriological studies, in all samples taken from wounds with pododermatitis in rabbits, the largest share was the group of staphylococci (70 %). Most often, S. aureus was isolated, which corresponded to 78–84 %. Other staphylococci were represented by S. intermedius, S. saprophyticus, and S. epidermidis. Also, a significant percentage was made up of bacteria of the Enterobacter family, a large part of which was represented by Escherichia coli. According to the results of bacteriological studies, in all samples taken from wounds with pododermatitis in rabbits, the largest share was the group of staphylococci (70 %). Most often, S. aureus was isolated, which corresponded to 78–84 %. Other staphylococci were represented by S. intermedius, S. saprophyticus, and S. epidermidis. Also, a significant percentage was made up of bacteria of the Enterobacter family, a large part of which was represented by Escherichia coli. Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli and other rod-shaped forms were found in the greatest number of bacteriological studies of washings from the soles of the paws of healthy animals from dysfunctional farms. Different types of staphylococci accounted for 18–24 %, S. aureus was detected in 35 %. The activation and development of pathogenic microphora depends on a number of factors: the nature of the feed, the age of the animals, and the temperature of the external environment. Therefore, there is a group of factors, the simultaneous action of which leads to a decrease in the resistance of the rabbit's body. First of all, these are high air temperatures in the summer for a long period of time. The moisture of the litter during feeding and the presence in the cage of a significant amount of juicy fodder, legumes (alfalfa), leads to maceration of the skin of the sole, which facilitates the process of penetration and development of pathogenic microorganisms, in this case – S. aureus. Measures to prevent pododermatitis should take into account the main trends in the development of this disease. Farms in which this disease is registered should switch to dry type of feeding. In the summer, when the development of the epizootic process is registered, cages should be filled with a minimum number of animals. The litter should always be dry, without impurities of thorny herbs, which can cause additional damage to the skin of the paws. Mandatory examination of the condition of the skin of the soles of rabbits in winter 1–2 times a month, in summer and spring – weekly, with subsequent isolation of sick animals.