Acute Suppurative Otitis in a Rabbit Infected with Multidrug-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus

Abstract

This case report describes a two-month-old female German Giant Spotted rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) diagnosed with acute suppurative otitis affecting the external and middle ear. The etiological agent, Staphylococcus aureus, exhibited multidrug resistance, complicating therapeutic management. The rabbit presented with clinical signs including head tilt, ataxia, and purulent otic discharge. Microbiological analysis confirmed S. aureus as the causative pathogen, with antimicrobial susceptibility testing revealing resistance to multiple antibiotic classes. Given the pathogen's resistance profile, treatment involved a combination of supportive care and targeted antimicrobial therapy. Despite intervention, the infection progressed, highlighting the challenges posed by multidrug-resistant bacterial infections in rabbits. This report emphasizes the importance of early microbiological diagnosis and antimicrobial susceptibility testing in guiding effective treatment strategies. Additionally, it underscores the emerging concern of antibiotic resistance in bacterial otitis in lagomorphs and the need for judicious antimicrobial use in veterinary practice.