Moraxella catarrhalis

Question
I have bronchitis and had a sputum specimen done, and it came back positive for Moraxella catarrhalis. I have researched this and apparently it is a bacterium that is responsible for some URIs in rabbits and other small animals. Is there a chance I could give my rabbits a uri? Obviously, they have been exposed by now. If they start showing symptoms, should I get them on antibiotics right away?
Thank you

Answer
Dear Mary,

Almost all humans are exposed to this common, usually harmless, bacterium at an early age.  As we grow, we develop immunity to these bugs, and produce antibodies to keep their population in check.  An immunocompromised person can lose control of the bacterial population and begin to show signs of illness if the immune system can't keep the bacteria from increasing to pathological numbers.

The same is true of rabbits.  As you suspect, your bunnies might well already be exposed.  It would not hurt for you to wash very carefully before handling them, and certainly avoid too much kissy-face while you have active signs of infection.  But if you have carried this bacterium all your life (which is likely), then your bunnies are probably already exposed and also producing their own antibodies against it.  That's really the key.  As long as your bunnies are healthy and their immune systems are working well, I would not worry.

Fortuantely, Moraxella is generally sensitive to the fluoroquinolone antibiotics, which are safe for rabbits.  If any of your bunnies did start to show signs of upper respiratory infection, the first step would be to have a culture and sensitivity test done by your trusted rabbit vet:

www.rabbit.org/vets

and then the vet could prescribe appropriate antibiotics.  I would not assume that any URI signs in your bunnies are caused by this bacterium without confirmation, though.  Please see:

www.bio.miami.edu/hare/sneezing.html

and

www.bio.miami.edu/hare/culture.html

In short, I would take common-sense precautions to avoid exposing the bunnies more than necessary, but you don't need to be too anxious about it if your bunnies are healthy.

Hope this helps.

Dana