Klebsiella spp. Infection

There have been reports of isolated outbreaks of enter­otyphlitis associated with Klebsiella pneumoniae and K. oxytoca among commercial rabbitries in Europe. Young kits and weanlings were particularly at risk, although diarrhea with mortality was occasionally seen in does.

FIG. 6.36. Hemorrhagic enterotyphlocolitis in a suckling rabbit kit due to Klebsiella oxytoca. (Source: Nemet et al. 2011. Reproduced with permission from BMJ Publishing Group Ltd.)

catarrhal enteritis with serosal ecchymoses, and occa­sionally constipation, were observed at necropsy. On microscopic examination, hemorrhagic enterotyphlitis with marked submucosal edema was observed. Necrotic enteritis was frequently present in adults that suc­cumbed to klebsiellosis. The organism was recoverable from a variety of tissues including intestine, liver, spleen, and lung. Possible predisposing factors that have been identified included the use of suboptimal concentrations of certain disinfectants, prior administration of antibi­otics, and the emergence of antibiotic-resistant strains.