The First Report of a Pulmonary Abscess Due to Streptococcus intermedius in Rabbits in Romania

<i>Streptococcus intermedius</i> is a Gram-positive coccus usually found in the normal digestive or respiratory flora of humans and in some animal species, including rabbits. In conditions of immunosuppression, it can cause serious infections that can be difficult to treat or can even lead to death if not treated properly. <i>S. intermedius</i>-induced infections must be taken seriously, and proper treatment needs to be provided as soon as the patient is diagnosed, because otherwise, these infections can evolve in such a dramatic way as to result in the death of the patient. This study reports the case of a young 5-month-old rabbit that was kept in good living conditions by its owner; however, the rabbit developed a respiratory infection that was not treated properly and was at first ignored by the owner. Due to the poor management, the infection became serious and ultimately ended with the death of the animal. The infection was caused by <i>Streptococcus intermedius</i> and affected the lungs, in which a large lung abscess developed, eventually leading to the animal's death. Even though the etiological agent is a commensal of the digestive and respiratory flora, it can induce lethal infections in some cases.