Conjunctival flora observed in 70 healthy domestic rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus)

Conjunctival swabs were taken from both eyes of 70 healthy domestic rabbits and cultured to determine the microbial population. Bacteria were recovere d from 83 per cent of the specimens. DNase-negative Staphylococcus species (57 per cent) were the most commonly recovered organisms followed by Microc occus species (25 per cent) and Bacillus species (19 per cent). other organ isms isolated included Stomatococcus species (8 per cent), Neisseria specie s (8 per cent), Pasteurella species (6 per cent), Corynebacterium species ( 6 per cent), Streptococcus species (6 per cent) and Moraxella species (4 pe r cent), and other bacteria were isolated less frequently. Statistical anal ysis showed that there appeared to be no significant difference between the bacterial isolation rates from different breeds of rabbit Significantly mo re of the swabs taken from young rabbits yielded cultivable bacteria than d id those taken from rabbits over 12 months of age.