Search

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. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Among the diseases of dogs, pyoderma is a frequent reason for referral to veterinary clinics. To effectively treat pyoderma and develop new strategies for preventing this disease, it is necessary to study the causes of formation and the conditions for the manifestation of pathogenic properties in causative agents. The purpose of the study will be to identify the microbiota isolated from the healthy skin of dogs and those with pyoderma. Washes were collected from the skin of various areas in clinically healthy dogs and dogs with pyoderma. The material was sown on selective media for the isolation of specific genera of microorganisms; after cultivation, pure cultures were identified according to the methods generally accepted in microbiological practice (cultural, tinctorial, morphological, and biochemical tests), according to Bergi's determinant. In addition, the following test systems were used: “STAPHY-test 16”, “En-coccustest 36”, and “NEFERM test-24”. It was established that coagulase-negative and coagulase-positive species of staphylococci belong to the representatives of the autochthonous microbiota of the skin of clinically healthy dogs, which are isolated from different areas in 100 and 60–68.5 % of cases, respectively—the coagulase-positive species S. pseudintermedius and the coagulase-variable species S. schleiferi subsp. Coagulants occupy up to 65 % of the central niche, and СNS accounts for up to 30 % of all identified staphylococci. The causative agent of pyoderma in monoculture was S. pseudintermedius in 85.8 % of cases. In 57.1 % of cases, association with pyoderma was represented by СPS and Escherichia coli, and microbial association with СPS and Pseudomonas aeruginosa was detected 4.0 times less often – 14.3 % of cases. In 28.6 % of cases, microbial associations included СPS, Proteus in combination with intestinal or Pseudomonas aeruginosa. On the share of coagulase-positive staphylococci S. pseudintermedius, S. aureus, and coagulase-variable subspecies S. schleiferi subsp. Coagulants account for the central part of the staphylococcal microbiota (93.1 %), identified from inflammatory skin foci in pyoderma. At the same time, the species S. pseudintermedius significantly prevailed over other species; in particular, its share accounted for 78.4 % of the staphylococci isolated, which is 16.0 times more than S. aureus and 8.0 times more than S schleiferi subsp. coagulants So, in the etiology and pathogenesis of pyoderma in dogs, a significant role is played by СPS, in particular, the species S. pseudintermedius. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study of the influence of the non-specific external factor -- the acidity of the medium, revealed the dependence of the film forming processes on the intensity of the factor and time of it action. The aim of the research was to study an influence of acidity of nutrient media on biofilm formation of isolates of S. aureus and S. epidermidis. Methods. Isolates of S. aureus (n=7) and S. epidermidis (n=20) were inoculated on media with different pH (from 4.0 to 8.0) and cultivated 72 h. After 24, 48 and 72 h of cultivation the quantity of living cells was determined. Results. It has been shown that the maximal increase of cell number in films of S. aureus and S. epidermidis occurred in media with neutral pH, as well as the growth rates were closer to the maximum when the film was grown at pH 6 and 8. Thus, at neutral pH, the maximal cell growth took place for 72 h, when the number of cells in S. aureus film was 9.52±8.56 lg CFU / ml and S. epidermidis was 9.29±8.07 lg CFU / ml. At pH 4 and 5, the intensity of the growth of the culture was the smallest: the maximal cell count in the film did not exceed 5.5 lg CFU / ml. Conclusion. The strains of S. aureus were more resistant to the influence of acidity of medium, compare to S. epidermidis isolates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]