The role of bacteria in canine respiratory disease

McCandlish, Irene Andrewina Paterson (1977) The role of bacteria in canine respiratory disease. PhD thesis, University of Glasgow.

Abstract

The morbidity and mortality associated with contagious canine respiratory disease have provided a strong stimulus for investigations into the aetiology and pathogenesis of this disease complex. Investigations by previous workers have established that a number of viral agents are of importance in such disease, but the role of bacteria has remained obscure. Part I of this thesis consists of combined pathological, bacteriological and virological studies of naturally occurring cases of the 2 major respiratory disease syndromes of the dog i. e. canine distemper and kennel cough. These studies establish that bacterial infection of the lower respiratory tract, especially with the bacterium Bordetella bronchiseptica, is of importance in both syndromes and indicates that in kennel cough, Bordetella bronchiseptica may play a primary aetiological role. Part II of the thesis comprises a detailed evaluation of the pathogenicity of Bordetella bronchiseptica for the respiratory tract of the dog. It shows that, under experimental conditions, infection of young dogs with this bacterium results in a severe tracheobronchitis with the development, in some dogs, of an exudative pneumonia. The clinical, pathological, bacteriological, immunofluorescence, and serological features of the experimental infection are described. The control of contagious respiratory disease is of great practical importance. In Part III is contained an account of attempts to immunise young dogs against experimental infection with Bordetella bronchiseptica. The results of these investigations indicate that it may be possible to provide some measure of protection from this bacterial respiratory disease by parenteral vaccination with an aluminium hydroxide adjuvanted preparation. The administration of antimicrobial agents is one of the main forms of treatment used in cases of contagious respiratory disease. Part IV of this thesis details the results of treatment of experimental Bordetella bronchiseptica infection in young dogs with two different antibiotics, oxytetracycline and amoxycillin. The treatment regimes employed failed to alter significantly the course of disease in experimental animals and it may be that effective chemotherapy of Bordetella bronchiseptica infection will necessitate the administration of high doses of antibiotics at frequent intervals.

• Item Type: Thesis (PhD)
• Qualification Level: Doctoral
• Additional Information: Adviser: N G Wright
• Keywords: Veterinary science
• Date of Award: 1977
• Depositing User: Enlighten Team
• Unique ID: glathesis:1977-72278
• Copyright: Copyright of this thesis is held by the author.
• Date Deposited: 24 May 2019 15:12
• Last Modified: 24 May 2019 15:12
• URI: https://theses.gla.ac.uk/id/eprint/72278