Streptococcus agalactiae Infection in Domestic Rabbits, Oryctolagus cuniculus

Streptococcus agalactia e (Group B streptococcus, GBS ) has emerged as an important pathogen that affects humans and animals, including aquatic species. In August 2011, a severe infectious disease affecting rabbits, which caused 42% mortality, occurred in M ianyang, S ichuan Province, C hina. The main clinical signs included acute respiratory distress syndrome, fever, paddling and convulsions. A Gram‐positive, chain‐forming coccus was isolated from the primary organs and tissues of diseased rabbits and then identified as S . agalactiae by morphology, biochemical and physiological characteristics, 16 S r DNA and gyr B gene sequences analysis. All isolates of S . agalactiae showed a similar antibiotic susceptibility, which were sensitive to florfenicol, ampicillin,gentamicin and norfloxacin, as well as being resistant to penicillin, amoxicillin and tetracycline. To our knowledge, this is the first report on S . agalactiae natural infection in domestic rabbits.