Clostridium spp. in rabbits: The underappreciated killer

Digestive disorders are the most frequent cause of veterinarian visits to rabbit industrial farms. Despite multiple agent infections in rabbits, enterotoxemia is one of the most relevant. Enterotoxemia is the designation given to the infectious disease caused by some Clostridium species and the toxins they produce. Clostridium spiroforme is a highly prevalent pathogen responsible for rabbit enteric disease and is frequently isolated in pre-weaning and growing rabbits. Contrary to other Clostridium species, such as C. perfringens type A and type E, which are part of the normal rabbit microbiota, C. spiroforme is usually considered a stranger bacterium. Predisposing factors that lead to rabbit stress are the triggers of disease development. Enterotoxemia treatment is often very difficult. In many cases, antimicrobial treatment is ineffective or even deteriorates the health status of the rabbit and complicates the evolution of the disease. The control of risk factors assumes crucial importance in preventing the disease. Feed restriction strategies, environmental comfort, and good biosecurity practices improve gut health and rabbit welfare. This chapter addresses the main features of enterotoxemia in rabbits and rabbitries and highlights the infection by C. spiroforme.