Laboratory diagnosis of Bordetella bronchiseptica tracheobronchitis in dog

Abstract

In the present paper the laboratory isolation and identification of Bordatella bronchiseptica, the causative agent of canine tracheobronhitis, is described. A dog which suffered persistent cough, loss of appetite and fever was previously unsucceffully treated with antibiotics, which is why nasal swabs were taken and sent for microbiological assessment. The isolation of the causative agent was performed on routinely used standard solid growth mediums. The final identification of the isolate was done with MALDI-TOF (matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization - time of flight) and real-time PCR (polymerase chain reaction) assays. Therapy based on the results of the antibiogram lead to successful recovery. The necessity of cooperation of veterinary clinicians and veterinary microbiologists for timely and reliable identification of the microbe(s) and selection of antimicrobials based on the results of the susceptibility testing is emphasized. The significance of the collaboration between microbiological veterinary laboratories and those dealing with human material is underlined. These can provide precise identification of zoonotic agents.