Pasteurella-What is it and why do you need to know about it?

Pasteurellosis, commonly known as “snuffles” is a bacterial disease in rabbits and guinea pigs caused by the Pasterella species, which can lead to respiratory infections, abscesses and other complications such as pneumonia and systemic issues. Often humans refer to ‘having the snuffles’ as a none serious term for just being slightly under the weather but if you hear a small pet expert saying “snuffles” then it’s more likely that that they are talking about Pasteurella (Pasteurellosis).

So why do I feel you need to know about it? Well in less a client is a very experienced bunny owner, a vet nurse or a vet, then it is rare for them to usually even know what Pasteurella is. But it affects so many small pets without owners even knowing what it is or the symptoms and signs that I thought a blog would be a good idea. The most common culprit is Pasteurella Multocida, but other Pasteurella species can also be involved in this health state developing. It’s estimated that potentially 30% to 90% of seemingly healthy rabbits may be asymptomatic carriers in the UK and a similar amount for guinea pigs.

Symptoms: There are different strains of Pasteurella which can cause different clinical signs including difficulty breathing, discharge from the nose, red or watery eyes, sneezing and snoring and swellings around the face, snuffling or rasping sound when breathing. Other signs include: Conjunctivitis, lethargy, loss of appetite, and potentially abscesses in various areas of the body. 

Transmission: Pasteurella bacteria can be found in the respiratory tract of healthy rabbits and can be spread through contact with infected rabbits or contaminated environments (cages, equipment). It can spread in the air from the environment too. The animal breathes in the bacteria and becomes infected. It can also be spread from a pregnant doe to her babies when she gives birth if the doe is infected with Pasteurella. The main point of entry however is by nasal contact or through open wounds. Once the bacteria has gotten into the animal it can spread to the lungs and respiratory tract.

Causes: Stress, poor hygiene, and inadequate housing conditions can increase the risk of infection. Other factors that may play a part in your pet getting sick include: There immune system, general health, if they are on any medication that affects the immune system. Environmental Factors include: The cleanliness of the housing, ventilation (having well ventilated housing for your rabbits reduces the spread of airborne bacteria), Nutrition (feeding a balanced diet will help keep the pet healthy so it can fight off infection. Overcrowding can also be a cause, leading to stressed pets and weakened immune systems.

Diagnosis: A veterinarian can diagnose Pasteurellosis based on clinical signs and by isolating the bacteria through nasal swabs. Blood tests can also help detect internal infections or subclinical carriers. 

Treatment: It’s very important to state that Pasteurella is often antibiotic resistant which is a huge reason why many rescues will not accept a rabbit or guinea pig that is showing signs of Pasteurella and because of the risk factor of it spreading to other animals that are ill, elderly or very young. Pasteurella is sensitive to many different antibiotics. A specific antibiotic can be chosen by taking a nasal swab and culturing the bacteria and testing which antibiotic the bacteria from that pet are most susceptible to. The primary treatment often involves giving the selected antibiotic daily over a 30 day period. This provides the pet with the best support to clear the infection. If the pet receives antibiotic treatment but because of its immune response or the strain of the bacteria, the infection cannot be cleared then this can alter the outcome. Potentially the pet becomes a persistent carrier of the disease but doesn’t show clinical signs anymore. Or the pet is chronically infected (remains infected for a long time) and develops snuffles or rhinitis, the infection may then spread to other areas and cause problems. Treatment may also involve supportive care (e.g., ensuring proper hydration and nutrition).  

Prevention: Maintaining a clean and stress free environment for your pet is crucial. Proper ventilation, regular cleaning of the cage and equipment, and avoiding overcrowding can help prevent the spread of infection. Vaccines are available for Pasteurella in rabbit farms, but they are not routinely used for pet rabbits. Making sure that an unwell pet with suspected Pasteurella is isolated away from other pets is key to preventing the spread and using PPI like over shoes, throw away aprons and constant hand washing will help to lower the risk of any humans from passing the bacteria from one pet to another.  

On a final note, I would add that as Pasteurella can spread like wild fire through whole rescues and pet care boarders when the correct preventatives are not put in place (and actually even when the correct preventatives are observed, it is just so hard to block, once it starts)- that therefore may rescues and small pet care boarding companies will not accept a pet to stay that has been diagnosed with Pasteurella. It can be very dangerous and even fatal to very sick, very elderly or very young small pets- therefore we also follow this rule. If you suspect your pet may have Pasteurella or they have been diagnosed with it then talk to your local small pet carer first. If they are experienced enough then they should advise house visits instead and use PPI when visiting your pet to avoid carrying it back to any other boarding pets. But remember that the symptoms can be a cause of many many other conditions too so it’s vital to get tests done before jumping the gun and labelling them as a Pasteurella Positive!

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