If one elects to culture for the organism, then the literature suggests that five negative cultures would suggest a reptile free of Salmonella. A new Salmonella PCR is also available which is genus-specific for Salmonella. It has been suggested that three negative PCR tests can be considered as five negative culture tests. Other potential zoonotic diseases include Campylobacter and several Mycobacterium species. Rabbits Cheyletiella infections are intermittently noted in rabbits.
Diagnosis is through direct microscopic visualization of the organism.
Clinical signs other than the presence of dermatitis consisting of white flakes of skin are uncommon. Affected rabbits generally are not pruritic and demonstrate little or no alopecia. Zoonotic infections are considered possible, although extremely uncommon. Dermatomycosis infections in rabbits should be considered in the differential diagnosis of an alopecic or pruritic rabbit. Both Microsporum and Trichophyton species can occur.