Clinical response to 2 protocols of aerosolized gentamicin in 46 dogs with Bordetella bronchiseptica infection (2012-2018).

BACKGROUND: Bordetella bronchiseptica (Bb) infection commonly causes respiratory disease in dogs. Gentamicin delivered by aerosol maximizes local drug delivery without systemic absorption but clinical response to protocols remains undetermined. OBJECTIVES: To compare the clinical response to 2 protocols of aerosolized delivery of gentamicin in bordetellosis. ANIMALS: Forty-six dogs with Bb infection confirmed by culture or quantitative polymerase chain reaction on bronchoalveolar lavage. METHODS: Retrospective study. Administration of aerosolized gentamicin for ≥10 minutes q12h for ≥3 weeks using 4 mg/kg diluted with saline (group 1) or undiluted 5% solution (group 2). Clinical response firstly assessed after 3-4 weeks and treatment pursued by 3-weeks increments if cure not reached. Cure defined as absence of cough persisting at least a week after treatment interruption. RESULTS: Demographic data were similar between both groups. Clinical cure at 3-4 weeks was more frequently observed with the use of undiluted solution (19/33 vs 3/13 dogs, P = .03) in association with a shorter median duration of treatment (4 vs 6 weeks, P = .01). Dogs from group 2 having less than 1000 cells/µL in lavage were also more likely to be cured at 3-4 weeks than dogs with more than 1000 cells/µL [9/9 vs 10/19, P = .006] and median duration of treatment in that subgroup of animals was reduced (3 vs 5 weeks, P = .02). CONCLUSION AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: Aerosolized delivery of gentamicin seems effective for inducing clinical cure in Bb infection. Clinical response appears better using undiluted 5% solution, particularly in the subgroup of dogs having less than 1000 cells/µL in lavage.

European surveillance of emerging pathogens associated with canine infectious respiratory disease.

Canine infectious respiratory disease (CIRD) is a major cause of morbidity in dogs worldwide, and is associated with a number of new and emerging pathogens. In a large multi-centre European study the prevalences of four key emerging CIRD pathogens; canine respiratory coronavirus (CRCoV), canine pneumovirus (CnPnV), influenza A, and Mycoplasma cynos (M. cynos); were estimated, and risk factors for exposure, infection and clinical disease were investigated. CIRD affected 66% (381/572) of the dogs studied, including both pet and kennelled dogs. Disease occurrence and severity were significantly reduced in dogs vaccinated against classic CIRD agents, canine distemper virus (CDV), canine adenovirus 2 (CAV-2) and canine parainfluenza virus (CPIV), but substantial proportions (65.7%; 201/306) of vaccinated dogs remained affected. CRCoV and CnPnV were highly prevalent across the different dog populations, with overall seropositivity and detection rates of 47% and 7.7% for CRCoV, and 41.7% and 23.4% for CnPnV, respectively, and their presence was associated with increased occurrence and severity of clinical disease. Antibodies to CRCoV had a protective effect against CRCoV infection and more severe clinical signs of CIRD but antibodies to CnPnV did not. Involvement of M. cynos and influenza A in CIRD was less apparent. Despite 45% of dogs being seropositive for M. cynos, only 0.9% were PCR positive for M. cynos. Only 2.7% of dogs were seropositive for Influenza A, and none were positive by PCR.