Clinico-epidemiological studies on ear canker in rabbits*

A survey was conducted at 3 different rabbitries to determine the prevalence of mange and ear canker in relation to age, sex, breed and mixed infection with other bacteria. Of 563 rabbits examined, 155 were positive for mange/ear canker with an over-all prevalence of 27.53%. Highest prevalence recorded was 69.81% while the lowest was 17.50%. The difference of prevalence at different rabbitries was highly significant (P<0.01) statistically. Age of the animals was found to be statistically (P<0.01) associated with prevalence of ear canker. Rabbits up to one-year age had lower incidence when compared to older rabbits. The prevalence was the least in those under three months age. The prevalence was significantly (P<0.01) high in Grey Giant (71.42%) and lowest in crossbred (6.28%), where male and female rabbits were equally susceptible. The infested rabbits showed clinical signs of intense itching, discomfort, dry crusty reddish brown scab in the ear canal, pain at the base of the ear, shaking of the head, loss of hair (around the eyes, eyelids, nostrils, genital organs, anus, ears and feet), decreased feed intake and torticollis (in 3 rabbits). On microscopic examination of skin scrapings/ear scab, Psoroptes spp. (87.10%) and Sarcoptes spp. (12.90%) mites were identified. Cultural examination of the ear swabs revealed the presence of Staphylococci spp. (75.55%), Proteus spp. (65.55%), Pasteurella spp. (33.33%), E. coli (31.11%) and Pseudomonos spp. (16.66%). The in-vitro drug sensitivity yielded maximum sensitivity to polymixyn-B (63.33%) and gentamicin (51.11%) and complete resistance to ampicillin and bacitracin.