Tyzzer’s Disease
Tyzzer’s disease was named after the man who discovered the disease in mice in
1917. It also occurs in rabbits, hamsters, gerbils, cats and rhesus monkeys. Clostridium
piliforme (formerly Bacillus piliformis) is the bacterium responsible for the disease
(Figure 3). Clinical signs include acute diarrhea, lethargy, anorexia, fecal soiling of the
perineum and dehydration. Death usually occurs within 12 to 72 hours in fryers 6 to 12
weeks old. These symptoms are very similar to other enteric diseases in rabbits. Acute
outbreaks of Tyzzer’s disease are associated with more than 90% mortality.