Intestinal flora studies in rabbit mucoid enteritis.

The clinical and bacteriological examination of spontaneous and experimental cases of mucoid enteritis on a large rabbit farm indicated that the mucin accumulations in the colon are a consequence of constipation. This opinion is supported by the results obtained following ligation of the proximal colon. These findings suggest that rabbit mucoid enteritis is not a specific disease entity but a general response to the factors which cause constipation. Studies of the bacterial flora of the gut in spontaneous and experimental cases suggest that while there is a notable increase in the number of coliforms and clostridia over the healthy controls, these organisms only play a secondary role.