Bordetella bronchiseptica

Bordetella bronchiseptica is a bacterium of the genus Bordetella and a causative agent of infectious bronchitis. Closely related to B. pertussis &mdash;the obligate human pathogen which causes pertussis or whooping cough&mdash;B. bronchiseptica can persist in the environment for extended periods.

Pathogenesis
Unlike B. pertussis or B. parapertussis, humans are not natural carriers of B. bronchiseptica, which typically infects the respiratory tracts of smaller mammals (cats, dogs, rabbits, etc).

While B. bronchiseptica does not express pertussis toxin which is one of the characteristic virulence factors of B. pertussis, it does contain the genes to do so, highlighting the close evolutionary relationship between the two species. ,

Veterinary pathogenesis
In veterinary medicine, B. bronchiseptica leads to a range of pathologies in different hosts. B. bronchiseptica and Pasteurella multocida act synergistically to cause atrophic rhinitis in pigs, a disease resulting in arrested growth and distortion of the turbinates in the nasal terminus (or snout). B. bronchiseptica is also a causative agent of acute tracheobronchitis in dogs (see Kennel cough) and in rabbits and guinea pigs B. bronchiseptica leads to a nearly asymptomatic infection known as snuffles.