Normal bacterial flora of the rabbit gastrointestinal tract: a clinical approach

摘要

The flora of the rabbit gastrointestinal tract varies with age, diet, and antibiotic use. The suckling rabbit maintains a relatively sterile stomach by the presence of a substrate in the doe's milk and an enzyme in the suckling rabbit's stomach. Thepredominant microflora in the lower gastrointestinal tract of young rabbits is streptococci and enterobacteria, whereas the predominant inhabitant of the adult rabbit small intestine, cecum, and colon is Bacteroides. The low gastric pH (1 to 1.9) of theadult maintains a relatively sterile stomach in this age group as well. Lincomycin, clindamycin, amoxicillin, penicillin, ampicillin, amoxicillin-clavulanic acid, erythromycin, and cephalosporins have been shown to cause enteritis and should be avoided if possible. Lactobacillus, cholestyramine, and transfaunation may be of benefit when treating rabbit enteritis.