NAME: Bordetella bronchiseptica
SYNONYM OR CROSS REFERENCE: Bacillus bronchiseptica, Brucella bronchiseptica, Hemophilus bronchiseptica, Kennel cough (in dogs), atrophic rhinitis (in swine)
CHARACTERISTICS: Gram-negative coccobacilli, aerobic, motile, grows sparsely on nutrient agar
PATHOGENICITY: Rarely found in humans, however can cause pertussis-like symptoms in immunocompetent hosts; in immunocompromised hosts, illness can range in severity from mild respiratory symptoms to pneumonia; carrier state may exist
EPIDEMIOLOGY: Worldwide
HOST RANGE: Humans, rodents, swine, dogs, cats and non-human primates
INFECTIOUS DOSE: Unknown
MODE OF TRANSMISSION: Direct contact with infectious droplets and aerosols
INCUBATION PERIOD: Unknown
COMMUNICABILITY: Communicable from person to person through coughing and the generation of infectious droplets
RESERVOIR: Infected persons, rodents, swine, dogs and lower primates
ZOONOSIS: Yes, can be transmitted from infected animals to humans by infected aerosols, probably droplets
VECTORS: None
DRUG SUSCEPTIBILITY: Susceptible in vitro to gentamicin, tobramycin, amikacin, some penicillins, some cephalosporins, chloramphenicol and tetracycline
DRUG RESISTANCE: Resistant to erythromycin
SUSCEPTIBILITY TO DISINFECTANTS: Sensitive to many disinfectants - 1% sodium hypochlorite, 70% ethanol, glutaraldehyde, formaldehyde, iodines, phenolics
PHYSICAL INACTIVATION: Susceptible to moist heat (121°C for at least 1 hour) and dry heat 160-170°C for at least 1 hour
SURVIVAL OUTSIDE HOST: Does not survive well outside of host; sensitive to drying and cold temperatures; has been shown to survive ~24 weeks in phosphate-buffered saline and lakewater
SURVEILLANCE: Monitor for symptoms
FIRST AID/TREATMENT: Antibiotic treatment may be considered
IMMUNIZATION: None available for humans
PROPHYLAXIS: None
LABORATORY-ACQUIRED INFECTIONS: Low risk of laboratory-acquired infection
SOURCES/SPECIMENS: Respiratory specimens
PRIMARY HAZARDS: Direct contact of mucous membranes with infectious aerosols and droplets
SPECIAL HAZARDS: B. bronchiseptica is a frequent cause of bronchopneumonia in animals; infected animals may generate infectious aerosols
CONTAINMENT REQUIREMENTS: Biosafety level 2 practices, containment equipment and facilities for work with known or potentially infectious specimens and cultures; work likely to generate aerosols should be carried out in a biosafety cabinet
PROTECTIVE CLOTHING: Laboratory coat; gloves when direct contact with infectious materials is unavoidable; gloves and gown (tight wrists and ties in back) should be worn for procedures conducted in the biosafety cabinet
OTHER PRECAUTIONS: Caution should be exercised when working with infected animals
SPILLS: Allow aerosols to settle; wearing protective clothing, gently cover spill with paper towels and apply 1% sodium hypochlorite, starting at perimeter and working towards the centre; allow sufficient contact time (30 min) before clean up
DISPOSAL: Decontaminate before disposal; steam sterilization, chemical disinfection, incineration
STORAGE: In sealed containers that are labelled appropriately
Date prepared: November 1999
Prepared by: Office of Laboratory Security, PHAC
Although the information, opinions and recommendations contained in this Material Safety Data Sheet are compiled from sources believed to be reliable, we accept no responsibility for the accuracy, sufficiency, or reliability or for any loss or injury resulting from the use of the information. Newly discovered hazards are frequent and this information may not be completely up to date.
Copyright ©
Health Canada, 2001