Naturally occurring respiratory disease in a kennel caused by Bordetella bronchiseptica

The role of Bordetella bronchiseptica as a primary pathogen in nautrally occurring respiratory disease of dogs has been in question since its original isolation in 1911. A study to determine the incidence of B. bronchiseptica in a closed breeding kennel has revealed that the frequency of such isolations is closely associated with mild respiratory disease characterized by a moist, sometimes productive, cough. Infection with B. bronchiseptica usually occurred shortly after weaning and produced illness which lasted for one to two weeks. The organisms, however, continued to be shed for two to three months, and important factor in maintaining the infection in this kennel. Adult dogs sampled at frequent intervals did not harbor B. bronchiseptica in spite of their almost constant exposure to heavily infected pups; immunity to reinfection, therefore, appeared to develop. The involvement of several known canine respiratory viral agents was excluded by virus isolation and serological techniques. It therefore was concluded that B. bronchiseptica was the primary cause of respiratory disease in this large breeding kennel.