Which organism is most commonly associated with rabbit snuffles?

• A. Pasteurella multocida
• B. Bordetella bronchiseptica
• C. Mycobacterium avium
• D. Escherichia coli

Answer: (A)

Pasteurella multocida is the organism most classically linked to rabbit snuffles. In rabbits, pasteurellosis causes chronic upper respiratory tract disease with sneezing, nasal discharge, and sometimes ocular discharge or facial sinus issues. The organism commonly colonizes the upper airways and can become problematic under stress or crowded, unsanitary conditions, leading to persistent rhinitis that veterinarians recognize as “snuffles.”

While other bacteria like Bordetella bronchiseptica can contribute to respiratory signs in rabbits, it is not the typical culprit behind the classic snuffles pattern. Mycobacterium avium tends to cause systemic mycobacteriosis rather than localized nasal disease in rabbits, and Escherichia coli is not a common cause of chronic rhinitis in these animals.