Bordetella bronchiseptica

Testing indication

• Bordetellosis diagnosis in cats with clinical signs (of varying intensity and associated with acute or chronic cough, hyperthermia, sneeze, ocular discharges, potentially severe pneumonia in kittens under 10 weeks).
• Detection of asymptomatic carriers (particularly in cattery/group of cats for clinical case): introduction of future breeders…

Test characteristics

 Real-time PCR
 Limit of detection

Diagnostic samples

• Respiratory signs: nasal and oropharyngeal cells collected with a cytobrush or possibly a dry swab.
• Deep respiratory signs: tracheal/respiratory tract swab in dry tube, tracheobronchial or bronchoalveolar lavage liquid on dry tube.
• Status determination of asymptomatic animals: nasal and oropharyngeal cells collected with a cytobrush or a dry swab.

When possible, collect samples before adopting an antibiotic treatment, including local treatment.

Result interpretation

• Negative result: absence of the bacteria or quantity inferior to the limit of detection.
• Positive result: presence of bacteria in analyzed sample. The analysis report would notify if the quantity of detected viral RNA is very low. The positive results are to be interpreted in the clinical context and depending on the duration of clinical signs and ongoing antibiotic treatment.
  The interpretation in a clinical context is relatively easy as the carriage rate in catteries or groups of cats is rather low. In Europe, it varies from 1,3% in respiratory sign-free catteries/groups of cats up to 5% in catteries/groups of cats showing respiratory signs. Moreover, the bacterial charge is low in asymptomatic animals. Even though, there is no ongoing study on shelters in Europe for this pathogen, it can be assumed that the carriage rate is higher in this type of collectivity, more notably if puppies are present as well (19% of shelters in the U.S were revealed to be infected).
• A recent or ongoing antibiotic treatment during the sample collection can modify the test sensitivity and/ or bacterial load.

Do not hesitate to contact us for sample collecting advice or help in interpreting the results.