Isolation and significance of aeromonas hydrophila group in farmed rabbits at Assiut Governorate

Abstract EN

A total of 135 faecal swabs were aseptically collected from different rabbit farms at Assiut Governorate.

Diarrhea and emaciation were observed in 120 out of 135 while the rest were apparently healthy..

These samples were examined bacteriologically for determination of the occurrence and frequency of Aeromonas hydrophila.

The obtained results revealed that total isolates of A.hydrophila were 35 at percentage of (25.9%) which represented 33 isolates from diarrhotic rabbits at percentage of (24.4%) while 2 isolates were obtained from apparently healthy animals at percentage of (1.5%).

The experimental infection in 6-8 week-old rabbits by oral route led to 20% mortality.

The clinical observation and the post-mortem lesions of experimentally infected animals were recorded Clinical observations were similar to a great extent to those of natural infection.

Reisolation of infecting organism from internal organs and intestinal tract of dead and scarified slaughtered rabbits at the end of observation period were conducted.

The in vitro susceptibility of the A.hydrophila isolates to a variety of antibiotics revealed that highest number of isolates were sensitive to Gentamyicin (100%), Nalidxic acid (100%), Chlormphnicol (95%) and Cephoxetin (90%), while it was resistant to Penicillin and Ampicillin.

The public health significance and the economic losses arising from infection of the rabbit with A.hydrophila as well as suggestions for their avoidance were discussed.