Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Bordetella bronchiseptica infections in cats.
- Journal:
- Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association
- Year:
- 1996
- Authors:
- Welsh, R D
- Affiliation:
- Oklahoma State University · United States
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A study looked at 11 cats from different homes and catteries that were diagnosed with Bordetella bronchiseptica infections, which can cause serious respiratory issues. Most of the affected cats were kittens younger than eight weeks old, and sadly, seven of them died, with pneumonia caused by this bacteria being a major factor. All the cats had coughing as a common symptom, and doctors were able to confirm the infection through tests on lung samples. This research suggests that if a cat is coughing, especially in a shelter or cattery setting, Bordetella bronchiseptica should be considered as a possible cause. The treatment outcomes were not detailed, but the high fatality rate indicates that this infection can be very serious.
Abstract
Eleven cats from 10 different households or catteries were diagnosed with Bordetella bronchiseptica (B. bronchiseptica) infections. Seven cases proved fatal, in which B. bronchiseptica pneumonia was a primary or significant cause of death. The majority of cases (seven of 11) were in kittens less than eight weeks old. A universal complaint was coughing. Bacterial cultures from transtracheal washes or lung tissue were successful in diagnosing bordetellosis in all cases. This report indicates that B. bronchiseptica should be a consideration in a cat presenting with a primary complaint of coughing and may be a relatively common disease in catteries or shelter environments.
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8680922/