Open AccessBordetella in Young Rabbits and Squirrels
Author(s) -
Julie DeCubellis,
Karen Shenoy
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
wildlife rehabilitation bulletin
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2769-6960
pISSN - 1535-2242
DOI - 10.53607/wrb.v24.195
Subject(s) - bordetella bronchiseptica , respiratory tract , pathogen , bordetella , medicine , biology , microbiology and biotechnology , pneumonia , respiratory tract infections , respiratory system , immunology , bordetella pertussis , bacteria , genetics
Bordetella bronchiseptica is a small gram–negative rod bacterium and a common inhabitant of the respiratory tract of rabbits and rodents. The organism is associated with upper respiratory tract infections including ‘snuffles’ in rabbits. In addition, B. bronchiseptica may be a primary respiratory pathogen in rodents and cats, a cause of tracheobronchitis (kennel cough) in dogs, atrophic rhinitis in pigs, and an uncommon but mild ‘whooping cough’ like syndrome in immunosuppressed humans. The organism has also been cultured in juvenile squirrels presenting to wildlife rehabilitation centers with upper respiratory infections (K. Shenoy and L. Davis, unpublished observations).