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PCR
Bordetella bronchiseptica – Overview
Bordetella species are small, gram-negative bacilli capable of motility via flagella. B. bronchiseptica typically survives only briefly outside the respiratory tract. Transmission occurs through direct contact or aerosolized droplets.
Due to its toxin production, B. bronchiseptica specifically targets and damages the ciliated epithelial cells of the respiratory mucosa. It can persist in the respiratory tract for up to three months. The pathogen is not host-specific and may be transmitted between species — for example, from dogs to cats — and, in rare cases, to humans (zoonotic potential).
In dogs, Bordetella bronchiseptica is a well-known component of kennel cough (canine infectious tracheobronchitis). In cats, it can also cause respiratory disease, although coughing is not typically observed. Common clinical signs include:
- Fever
- Sneezing
- Nasal discharge
- Swelling of the submandibular lymph nodes
- Harsh or intensified breath sounds
Symptoms are usually mild and self-limiting, resolving within approximately 10 days. However, life-threatening bronchopneumonia may develop in young kittens.
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