Author(s): Matos, Ricardo Emanuel Castanheira de
Date: 2014
Persistent ID: http://hdl.handle.net/10400.5/8128
Origin: Repositório da Universidade de Lisboa
Subject(s): Rabbit; Computed tomography; Otitis media; Otitis externa; Otitis interna; Vestibular disease; Coelho; Tomografia computorizada; Otite média; Otite externa; Otite interna; Doença vestibular
Otitis media is commonly reported in rabbits. Proposed predisposing factors include upper respiratory infection and otitis externa/ear position. Otitis media can be difficult to diagnose, as affected rabbits are often asymptomatic unless it is associated with otitis externa or interna. Computed tomography (CT) is considered the “gold standard” for evaluation of the middle ear in dogs and cats. Medical records were searched for rabbits that had a head CT scan performed. Eighty eight cases met the inclusion criteria and were assigned to 2 groups based on reason for head CT (group 1: ear related clinical signs; group 2: non-ear related clinical signs). The prevalence of clinical and subclinical middle ear disease was 57% and 27% respectively as defined by increased attenuation within the tympanic cavity. Lysis of the tympanic bulla was associated with clinical disease and weakly associated with clinical progression of subclinical middle ear disease to clinical disease. Upon follow up of rabbits with subclinical middle ear disease, most cases remained subclinical after CT exam. A strong correlation was found between otitis media and lop-ear position and otitis externa. No correlation was found between middle ear disease and upper respiratory disease.
