Bordetella bronchiseptica

Infectious canine tracheitis/Kennel cough

• B. bronchiseptica acts as a primary pathogen in Infectious canine tracheitis
• Frequently isolated from dogs with respiratory disease
• Often found with viruses or mycoplasma
• Adheres to ciliated epithelial cells in the trachea
• Colonisation and proliferation in trachea
• Releases toxins causing epithelial necrosis and prevents ciliary clearance
• Irritation to tract causes coughing
• Mortality rates low
• Peribronchial inflammation and bronchopneumonia

can result in unvaccinated puppies or immunosuppressed dogs

• Severe pneumonia following secondary infection e.g. with Streptococci
• Fatal bronchopneumonia if occurs secondary to canine distemper virus
• Transmission via respiratory secretions by direct contact or aerosol and on fomites
• Clinical signs:
  • Develop within 3-4 days; persist for up to 2 weeks
  • Coughing
  • Gagging
  • Mild serous oculonasal discharge
• Treatments includes antibiotics if coughing persists or bronchopneumonia develops
• Live intranasal vaccines
• Also found in respiratory tract of cats; can cause pneumonia in kittens; vaccine available

Atrophic Rhinitis

• B. bronchiseptica causes Atrophic rhinitis of pigs in association with Pasteurella multocida
• Colonises nasopharynx
• Infection must occur during first few weeks of life
• Produces dermonecrotic toxin which damages osteoblasts, preventing bone formation
• Leads to turbinate atrophy without distortion of the snout in uncomplicated infections
• Atrophic rhinitis results when Pateurella multocida colonises and produces osteolytic toxin, leading to bone resorption
• Malformation of snout in growing pigs as well as poor growth
• increases with high stocking density and poor ventilation
• Vaccine available