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Antimicrobial resistance within pets has gained worldwide attention due to pets close contact with humans. This report examined at the molecular level, the antimicrobial resistance mechanisms associated with kennel cough and cat flu. 1378 pets in total were assessed for signs of respiratory infection, and nasal and conjunctival swabs were collected across 76 diseased animals. Phenotypically, 27% of the isolates were characterized by multidrug resistance and possessed high levels of resistance rates to β-lactams. Phenotypic ESBLs/AmpCs production were identified within 40.5% and 24.3% of the isolates, respectively. Genotypically, ESBL- and AmpC-encoding genes were detected in 33.8% and 10.8% of the isolates, respectively, with bla SHV comprising the most identified ESBL, and bla CMY and bla ACT present as the AmpC with the highest levels. qnr genes were identified in 64.9% of the isolates, with qnrS being the most prevalent (44.6%). Several antimicrobial resistance determinants were detected for the first time within pets from Africa, including bla CTX-M-37 , bla CTX-M-156 , bla SHV-11 , bla ACT-23 , bla ACT25/31 , bla DHA-1 , and bla CMY-169 . Our results revealed that pets displaying symptoms of respiratory illness are potential sources for pathogenic microbes possessing unique resistance mechanisms which could be disseminated to humans, thus leading to the development of severe untreatable infections in these hosts.

In summer 2023, during an outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in cats in Poland, a 16-year-old dog was presented to the veterinary clinic with persistent, debilitating, dry cough, submandibular lymphadenomegaly, mild serous nasal discharge, and left apical heart murmur. A preliminary diagnosis of kennel cough was made and the treatment with amoxicillin/clavulanic acid and dexamethasone was initiated. Due to the lack of improvement within 2 days, a blood check-up, thoracic radiography and ultrasonography, and echocardiography were performed. Moreover, a rapid test for orthomyxovirus type A antigen in a throat swab was carried out and proved positive. The result was verified using RT-qPCR, which yielded a positive result for A/H5N1 influenza virus and negative results for A/H1N1, A/H3N2, type B influenza, and SARS-CoV-2. This case indicates that HPAI should be considered as a differential diagnosis not only in cats, but also in dogs with upper respiratory tract disease, particularly in regions experiencing A/H5N1 avian influenza outbreaks.

This study surveyed the prescribing behavior of Colombian companion animal veterinarians and compared the responses to the current guidelines of the International Society for Companion Animals on Infectious Diseases (ISCAID). A convenience sample of 100 primary-care veterinary practitioners was selected from the city of Medellin. A questionnaire was designed to present hypothetical clinical scenarios regarding prescription choices for systemic antimicrobials. The numbers of veterinarians empirically prescribing a course of systemic antimicrobials for each scenario were—perioperative elective surgeries (86%), superficial pyoderma (90%), lower urinary tract disease (52%), acute hemorrhagic diarrhea (50%), and kennel cough (46%). For urinary tract disease, cultures and susceptibility testing were only performed by half of the respondents, suggesting lower diagnostic standards. In superficial pyoderma cases, cytology was performed in the following percent of cases—0% (24), 20% (30), 40% (17), 60% (11), 80% (8), and 100% (10). Antimicrobials were over-prescribed relative to emerging standard for elective surgeries (86%), kennel cough (46%), and acute hemorrhagic diarrhea (50%). Critically important antimicrobials, such as fluoroquinolones, were applied commonly for superficial pyoderma (18%), kennel cough (12%), and lower urinary tract disease in dogs (20%) and cats (26%). In conclusion, antimicrobial prescribing behavior was inconsistent with current guidelines, and antimicrobial use could be improved by appropriate diagnostic steps allowing choice of an optimal antimicrobial drug. Overall, we documented the widespread use of antimicrobials for the treatment of these four common disease conditions.

The canine infectious respiratory disease complex (CIRDC) is an endemic respiratory syndrome caused by different bacterial and viral pathogens. This report describes a case of canine parainfluenza virus infection in a vaccinated household dog with an acute respiratory symptom (dry cough), who underwent clinical and endoscopic investigations for a suspected foreign body. Cytological investigations carried out on the broncho-alveolar lavage fluid (BALF) tested negative for the presence of inflammatory or infectious processes and could have been misleading the clinicians. By the molecular analyses (PCR) carried out on the BALF, canine parainfluenza virus was exclusively detected without the simultaneous presence of other respiratory pathogens associated to CIRDC. This case report emphasizes the role of molecular diagnostics in the differential diagnosis of respiratory diseases, in order to avoid underestimating the circulation of the parainfluenza virus in the canine population.

ABSTRACT Background Bordetella bronchiseptica is an essential bacterial pathogen characterized by chronic respiratory disease in dogs known as Kennel cough. The presence of causative antibodies in animals can also be detected by lipopolysaccharide antigen‐based enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). In recent years, it has been determined that there is a significant relationship between acute phase proteins and diseases, and disease follow‐up can be done within the framework of this relationship. Methods In this study, blood sera from 150 dogs in an animal shelter in Van province were evaluated for B. bronchiseptica by the homemade ELISA method, and their correlations with serum amyloid A (SAA) were investigated. Blood serum samples were analysed for antibodies against B. bronchiseptica using a homemade ELISA method. Positive animals were also molecularly confirmed using nasal swabs by PCR. A commercial ELISA kit determined SAA levels in blood sera. Results Eighteen (12%) of the analysed blood serum samples were found positive by the homemade ELISA method. SAA concentrations in the positive blood sera were elevated from 12.7 to ≤38.98 mg/L. SAA concentrations in blood sera serologically positive for B. bronchiseptica were statistically significant. Conclusions In this study, in which the relationship between SAA concentration and B. bronchiseptica was investigated for the first time in Turkey, it was concluded that SAA concentration analysis may help diagnose and monitor the disease. In addition, the presence and prevalence of this critical and zoonotic agent causing chronic respiratory tract disease in dogs in Van province was revealed for the first time in this study. A study in Van, Turkey examined Bordetella bronchiseptica in shelter dogs using ELISA and PCR. Overall, 12% of blood samples tested positive. Serum amyloid A (SAA) levels were significantly elevated in positive cases, suggesting SAA could be a useful diagnostic marker for this chronic respiratory disease‐causing bacterial pathogen.

Bordetella bronchiseptica is a well-known etiological agent of kennel cough in dogs and cats and one of the two causative agents of atrophic rhinitis, a serious swine disease. The aim of the study was to isolate B. bronchiseptica bacteriophages from environmental samples for the first time. A total of 29 phages from 65 water samples were isolated using the strain ATCC 10580 as a host. The lytic spectra of the phages were examined at 25 and 37°C, using 12 strains of B. bronchiseptica. All phages were able to plaque on 25.0% to 41.7% of the strains. The selected phages showed similar morphology (Siphoviridae, morphotype B2), but variation of RFLP patterns and efficacy of plating on various strains. The partial genome sequence of phage vB_BbrS_CN1 showed its similarity to phages from genus Yuavirus. Using PCR, it was confirmed that the phages do not originate from the host strain, and environmental origin was additionally confirmed by the analysis of host genome sequence in silico and plating heated and unheated samples in parallel. Accordingly, this is the first isolation of B. bronchiseptica phages from environment and the first isolation and characterization of phages of B. bronchiseptica belonging to family Siphoviridae.

The canine adenovirus type 2 (CAdV-2) is associated with the infectious tracheobronchitis commonly called “kennel cough”, cosmopolitan in dogs but little explored in gray wolves. Our goals were (i) to evaluate the presence and circulation of CAdV-2 in free-ranging Italian wolves (Canis lupus italicus), through the analysis of spleens and tongues collected from 56 carcasses sampled in three Italian regions between August 2017 and July 2020, and (ii) to support the validity of a matrix such as the tongue, which was never used before. Samples were screened for the presence of CAdV-2 DNA using both PCR and real-time PCR assay. Positive results were related to sampling year, location, sex, age, genetic determination of species, and matrices tested. Three male wolves (5.4%) tested positive in tongue samples, demonstrating that the tongue is an excellent matrix for the detection of CAdV-2. To the best of our knowledge, no studies were performed to evaluate the usability of tongue samples to detect CAdV-2 DNA in grey wolves or other wild animals. The number of wolves tested positive suggests that, during the studied years, the circulation of CAdV-2 in Italian wolves showed a low frequency, consistent with irregular introductions of the virus by dogs or other wild carnivores in these populations. This preliminary study provides new data on the ecology of CAdV-2 in Italian wolves, although future studies are needed to fully understand its real circulation at a national scale, its pathogenetic role in gray wolves, and its risk of transmission to other wild carnivores.

Parainfluenza virus 5 (PIV5), formerly known as simian virus 5 (SV5), is a paramyxovirus often referred to as canine parainfluenza virus (CPI) in the veterinary field. PIV5 is thought to be a contributing factor to kennel cough. Kennel cough vaccines containing live PIV5 have been used in dogs for many decades. PIV5 is not known to cause any diseases in humans or other animals. PIV5 has been used as a vector for vaccine development for humans and animals. One critical question concerning the use of PIV5 as a vector is whether prior exposure to PIV5 would prevent the use of PIV5-based vaccines. In this work, we have examined immunogenicity of a recombinant PIV5 expressing hemagglutinin (HA) of influenza A virus subtype 3 (rPIV5-H3) in dogs that were immunized against PIV5. We found that vaccination of the dogs containing neutralizing antibodies against PIV5 with rPIV5-H3 generated immunity against influenza A virus, indicting that PIV5-based vaccine is immunogenic in dogs with prior exposure. Furthermore, we have examined exposure of PIV5 in human populations. We have detected neutralizing antibody (nAb) against PIV5 in 13 out of 45 human serum samples (about 29 percent). The nAb titers in humans were lower than that in vaccinated dogs, suggesting that nAb in humans is unlikely to prevent PIV5 from being an efficacious vector in humans.

An infant who experienced recurrent episodes of respiratory failure received a diagnosis of pertussis on the basis of immunofluorescence testing, but culture revealed macrolide-resistant Bordetella bronchiseptica. Genetic analysis demonstrated that the child was not infected with a kennel cough vaccine strain, although the family's dog had recently been vaccinated. The infection cleared with imipenem therapy.