Diagnostic spectrum

Bordetella bronchiseptica can also be detected by culture (service ID 150 Bacteriology).

When requesting a bacteriological examination, please clearly indicate on the submission form that Bordetella bronchiseptica should be tested as special culture media are required.

General information

Bordetella are small gram-negative bacilli which can move by means of flagella. B. bronchiseptica usually only survives for a rather short period of time outside the respiratory tract. Transmission takes place by direct contact or via aerosols.

Because of its toxins, B. bronchiseptica particularly damages the cilia-bearing cells of the respiratory mucosa and it can persist in the respiratory tract for up to three months. The pathogen is not host-specific and can be transmitted from one animal species (e. g. dog) to another (e. g. cat) and also to humans (zoonosis!).

In dogs, Bordetella are known as a component of kennel cough and they are also responsible for respiratory tract diseases in cats, although coughing is not a characteristic symptom in cats. Typical signs are fever, sneezing, nasal discharge, swelling of the submandibular lymph nodes and intensified breath sounds. Usually, only mild symptoms occur which disappear again after about 10 days. However, life-threatening bronchopneumonia can develop in young kittens.