Characterization of a Haemophilus sp. isolated from a rabbit with conjunctivitis

A case of conjunctivitis in a rabbit caused by a Haemophilus sp. is described. This was the only organism that was isolated in large numbers from the infected eye. The uninfected eye of the same rabbit contained Staphylococcus epidermidis, Corynebacterium kutscheri, Proteus mirabilis and a Neisseria sp. Effects of infection with live Haemophilus sp. isolated from the subject rabbit was studied in the eyes of rabbits and mice. Swabbing live organisms in the normal rabbit eye produced blepharitis within 48 hours. Signs of blepharitis started to disappear after 10 days without treatment. No reaction was noted in the control eye (swabbed with sterile saline) of the rabbit. Swabbing live organisms or sterile saline in the normal mouse eye failed to produce visible lesions up to 4 weeks. Evidence suggests that the Haemophilus sp. was pathogenic for rabbits but not for mice.