BACKGROUND: Bordetella bronchiseptica is a gram negative pathogen of the respiratory tract in dogs, pigs, cats, horses, laboratory animals and human beings. OBJECTIVES: The goal of this study was detection of Bordetella bronchiseptica in oropharynx region of pet and kenneled dogs by PCR and culture and evaluation of antibiotic susceptibility of the isolates in Iran. METHODS: The samples were collected by sterile swabs from oropharynx region of 62 pet dogs (including 31 dogs with clinical respiratory disease signs and 31 dogs without clinical respiratory disease signs) and 62 kenneled dogs (including 31 dogs with clinical respiratory disease signs and 31 dogs without clinical respiratory disease signs). Bordetella bronchiseptica was detected by PCR and culture and antibiotic susceptibility of the isolates were evaluated. RESULTS: Based on the PCR results, Bordetella bronchiseptica was detected in 16.1% of pet dogs with clinical respiratory disease signs, 9.6% of pet dogs without clinical respiratory disease signs, 22.5% of kenneled dogs with clinical respiratory disease signs and 16.1% of kenneled dogs without clinical respiratory disease signs. On bacterial culture, Bordetella bronchiseptica was isolated from 3.2% pet dogs with clinical respiratory disease signs, 3.2% kenneled dogs with clinical respiratory disease signs and 6.4% kenneled dogs without clinical respiratory disease signs, none of the pet dogs without clinical respiratory disease signs was positive on bacterial culture. The isolates tested by the agar dilution method were susceptible to tetracycline, enrofloxacin, co-trimoxazole and doxycycline, moderately susceptible to ceftriaxone and resistant to ampicillin. CONCLUSIONS: This study has shown the high prevalence of Bordetella bronchiseptica infection in dogs in Iran. Bordetella bronchiseptica can infect the people who have contact with the affected pet dogs and those kept in overcrowded shelters.

The in vitro antimicrobial activities of aditoprim (AP), a new dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) inhibitor, trimethoprim (TMP), sulfadimethoxine (SDM), sulfamethoxazole (SMX), and combinations of these drugs against some porcine respiratory tract pathogens were determined by use of an agar dilution method. The minimal inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of these agents were determined twice against Bordetella bronchiseptica (n = 10), Pasteurella multocida (n = 10), and Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae (n = 20) strains isolated from pigs suffering from atrophic rhinitis or pleuropneumonia. All B bronchiseptica strains were resistant to AP and TMP. The MIC50 values of AP and TMP for P multocida were 0.25 and 0.06 microgram/ml, respectively, and for A pleuropneumoniae, 1 and 0.25 microgram/ml, respectively. The MIC50, values of SDM and SDM for B bronchiseptica were 4 and 1 microgram/ml, respectively; for P multocida, 16 and 8 microgram/ml, respectively; and for A pleuropneumoniae, 16 and 8 microgram/ml, respectively. The investigated combinations of the DHFR inhibitors and the selected sulfonamides had synergism for the A pleuropneumoniae strains; the MIC90 values of the combinations were less than or equal to 0.06 microgram/ml. Potentiation was not observed for the B bronchiseptica and the P multocida isolates. The MIC of the combinations against B bronchiseptica and P multocida corresponded respectively to the concentrations of the sulfonamides and the DHFR inhibitors in the combinations. For A pleuropneumoniae, 2 types of strains were used (25% of serotype 2 and 75% of serotype 9). Type-2 strains had lower susceptibility than type-9 strains to AP and TMP as well as to SDM and SMX (at least a fourfold difference in MIC between the 2 types of strains). The MIC of the combinations were similar for the 2 types of strains.

The present study was conducted to investigate the Bordetella bronchiseptica infection in Youngnam swine herds during the period of August 1986 to July 1987 and some properties of the organisms isolated from these Korean swine. B. bronchiseptica was recovered from 25 of 70 (35.7%) growing pigs of 4 to 10 weeks of age and from 12 of 13 (92.3%) herds. From 115 slaughter pigs, 58(50.4%) pigs were culture positive and the pigs from 13 of 14 (92.9%) herds were found to be infected with B. bronchiseptica. The majority of biochemical and cultural properties of B. bronchiseptica isolated from Korean swine were identical to those of the standard strain employed and some 97.6% of the isolates showed the characters of phase I organism on primary isolation.

OBJECTIVE To determine whether exposure to UV germicidal irradiation (UVGI) reduces concentrations of viable aerosolized microorganisms (attenuated strains of common veterinary pathogens) in a simulated heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system. SAMPLE 42 air samples seeded with bacteriophage MS2 or attenuated strains of Bordetella bronchiseptica, feline calicivirus, feline herpesvirus-1, canine parvovirus, or canine distemper virus (6/microorganism) or with no microorganisms added (6). PROCEDURES A simulated HVAC unit was built that included a nebulizer to aerosolize microorganisms suspended in phosphate-buffered water, a fan to produce airflow, 2 UVGI bulb systems, and an impinger for air sampling. Ten-minute trials (3 with UVGI, 3 without UVGI, and 1 negative control) were conducted for each microorganism. Impingers collected microorganisms into phosphate-buffered water for subsequent quantification with culture-based assays. Results for samples yielding no target microorganisms were recorded as the assay's lower limit of detection. Statistical analysis was not performed. RESULTS The UVGI treatment resulted in subjectively lower concentrations of viable MS2, B bronchiseptica, and canine distemper virus (arithmetic mean ± SD log10 microorganism reduction, 2.57 ± 0.47, ≥ 3.45 ± 0.24, and ≥ 1.50 ± 0.25, respectively) collected from air. Feline herpesvirus-1 was detected in only 1 sample without and no samples with UVGI treatment. Feline calicivirus and canine parvovirus were not detectable in any collected samples. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Results for some surrogates of veterinary pathogens suggested a potential benefit to supplementing manual disinfection practices with UVGI-based air cleaning systems in animal care environments. Further research is needed to investigate the utility of UVGI in operating HVAC systems.

Bordetella (B.) bronchiseptica is a causative agent of swine atrophic rhinitis that promotes colonization of the mucous membrane of the swine nasal cavity by Pasteurella (P.) multocida. Mixed infection with B. bronchiseptica and P. multocida leads to growth inhibition of pigs, resulting in significant economic loss. There are many commercial vaccines for atrophic rhinitis, including B. bronchiseptica as a killed vaccine antigen (Ag). However, the immunogenicity of killed B. bronchiseptica Ag has not yet been elucidated; therefore, this study was conducted to investigate the immunogenicity of killed B. bronchiseptica Ag and the type of immune response it induces. In vitro assays using mouse spleen cells and flow cytometry revealed that B. bronchiseptica Ag induced high proliferation capability of lymphocytes, especially B lymphocytes, and the proliferating cells showed a significant response to interleukin (IL)-2. B. bronchiseptica Ag also enhanced the production of IL-12, a representative cytokine for cell-mediated immunity. In vivo experiments using mice showed that the injection of B. bronchiseptica Ag markedly induced Ag-specific antibody. Taken together, these results indicate that B. bronchiseptica Ag has high immunogenicity by itself.

Bone marrow is a hematological and immunological organ that provides multiple immune cells, including B lymphocytes, and thus plays a critical role in the efficacy of vaccine. We previously demonstrated that Bordetella (B.) bronchiseptica antigen has high immunogenicity in spleen cells, a peripheral immune organ. In this study, we investigated the immunogenicity of B. bronchiseptica antigen in bone marrow cells, a central immune organ. B. bronchiseptica antigen increased the cellular activity of bone marrow cells and significantly enhanced the production of nitric oxide, IL-6, and TNF-¥�. Bone marrow cells primed with B. bronchiseptica antigen in vivo were harvested and stimulated with the same antigen in vitro. The stimulation of B. bronchiseptica antigen significantly increased the cellular activity and proliferation rate of the primed cells. B. bronchiseptica antigen also greatly induced the production of antigen-specific antibody in the primed cells. Taken together, the present study demonstrated that B. bronchiseptica antigen can stimulate bone marrow cells, a central immune organ, and recall the immune response of the primed bone marrow cells.

The interaction of Bordetella bronchiseptica, toxigenic Pasteurella multocida serotype D, and the mycotoxin fumonisin B1 (FB1) was studied. On day 0 of the experiment, 28 artificially reared 3-day-old piglets were divided into 4 groups (n = 7 each): a control group (A), a group fed FB1 toxin (B), a group infected with the 2 pathogens (C), and a group infected with the 2 pathogens and fed FB1 toxin (D). The B. bronchiseptica infection [with 106 colony-forming units (CFU)/mL] was performed on day 4 and the P. multocida infection (with 108 CFU/mL) on day 16. From day 16 a Fusarium verticillioides fungal culture (dietary FB1 toxin content 10 mg/kg) was mixed into the feed of groups B and D. In groups C and D, clinical signs including mild serous nasal discharge, sneezing, panting, and hoarseness appeared from day 4, and then from day 16 some piglets had coughing and dyspnea as well. Computed tomography (CT) performed on day 16 demonstrated lung lesions attributable to colonization by B. bronchiseptica in the infected groups. By day 25 the number of piglets exhibiting lesions had increased, and the lesions appeared as well-circumscribed, focal changes characterized by a strong density increase in the affected areas of the lungs. The gross pathological findings confirmed the results obtained by CT. These results indicate that, when combined with dual infection by B. bronchiseptica and P. multocida, dietary exposure of pigs to FB1 toxin raises the risk of pneumonia and increases the extent and severity of the pathological changes.

5-Fluorouracil, doxorubicin, and vincristine are chemotherapy agents used to treat various cancers, such as breast cancer and lymphoma for decades, and their effects on cancer have been proven. On the other hand, these anti-cancer drugs cause fatal side effects, including immunosuppression. This study investigated whether sonicated Bordetella bronchiseptica bacterin (B. bronchiseptica) can attenuate the immunosuppression of spleen cells induced by these chemotherapy agents and which subsets of spleen cells were affected. B. bronchiseptica increased the metabolic activity of spleen cells treated with 3 anti-cancer drugs. Cell death analysis using Annexin V/propidium iodide showed that B. bronchiseptica markedly decreased the death of spleen cells. The subsets of spleen cells were analyzed by flow cytometry using a surface marker-specific antibody. B. bronchiseptica increased nitric oxide production in the spleen cells treated with anti-cancer drugs (p less than 0.0001). Despite the pharmacological effects of anti-cancer drugs, many patients suffer from the fatal side effects of immunosuppression. This study provides valuable information on how to overcome chemotherapy-induced immunosuppression.

The prevalence of the causative agents of feline upper respiratory tract disease (URTD) has been previously documented in many regions worldwide, but has yet to be reported in eastern Canada. The objectives of this study were to determine the prevalence of feline herpesvirus(-1) (FHV(-1)), feline calicivirus (FCV), Chlamydia felis (C. felis), and Bordetella bronchiseptica (B. bronchiseptica) in a population of shelter cats with clinical signs related to URTD on Prince Edward Island, Canada; to compare the prevalence of FHV(-1) and FCV as detected by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and virus isolation (VI) in this population; and lastly, to determine whether factors, such as co-infections, time of year, concurrent feline leukemia virus (FeLV)- or feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV)-positive status, or clinical signs, were associated with prevalence of particular pathogens. Conjunctival, nasal mucosal, and oropharyngeal swabs were collected from 82 cats with clinical signs consistent with URTD. Samples were pooled in transport medium and PCR was used to detect FHV(-1), FCV, and C. felis and VI was also used to detect FHV(-1) and FCV. A separate swab was submitted for aerobic bacterial culture to detect B. bronchiseptica. Feline herpesvirus(-1) (FHV(-1)) was the most prevalent in this population, followed by C. felis, B. bronchiseptica, and FCV. Of the 4 cats that were positive for B. bronchiseptica, 3 were concurrently positive for FHV(-1). All positive B. bronchiseptica cultures were resistant to cefovecin. The prevalence for FHV(-1) was lowest in autumn (seasons P < 0.001) and was positively associated with the presence of nasal discharge (P = 0.018) and coughing (P = 0.043).

The major causes of the decline of the Dugong population along the urban coast of Mersing, Johor includes gill netting, subsistence hunting, habitat loss from extreme weather events that are likely to be exacerbated by climate change, humansettlement, breach of the bots and sea water pollution. In March 2017, a male Dugong dugon, estimated age of 10 to 20 years, wasincidentally found dead near Pulau Tinggi, Mersing, Johor by a fisherman. The entire body was found to have old and new scarsat the anterior part of the abdomen. The right eye was protruded out and bleeding which indicated that the eye was piercedby a sharp object. Necropsy revealed the upper small intestine and the stomach compartments were semi-impacted with a massive helminth burden (more than 1,000 nematodes). Paradujardinia halicoris worms were identified based on morphological characteristics. Zoonotic fungus named Madurella mycetomi were isolated from heart and lung after incubation for 14 days.Histologically, the lung was confirmed to have the presence of big mast cells which formed capsules, indicating presence offungal spores causing systemic mycoses where the macrophages invade and engulf the spores. The shrinkage of myocardium myocyte and myocardium necrosis with mild vasculitis indicates heart failure. Groucott’s stain confirmed Madurella mycetomi infection that induced systemic pulmonary and myocardium mycosis in Dugong dugon.