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Just as dogs can contract "kennel cough" (or infectious tracheobronchitis caused by the bacterium Bordetella Bronchiseptica) from other dogs, so can cats. Your cats may even be exposed from the bacteria from dogs, other animals, maybe even you-although this transmission has not been well documented.
Bordetella bacterium are transmitted through aerosolized particles
(such as those sneezed or coughed out into the air) and through
fomite transmission (bacteria that "land" in the environment)
and infect your pet
Bordetella was originally believed to be secondary to upper respiratory
viruses, some studies have shown that Bordetella can be a primary
cause of infection. Controlled studies can give insight into the
transmission and clinical signs associated with exposure, but
frequency in the general population is still unknown. Transmission
appears to be higher in situations where there are many cats such
as shelters, catteries, cat shows, and multicat households. These
cats are at a higher risk of exposure because they are exposed
to more cats.
Clinical signs of Bordetella infection in cats can be all or just one of the following symptoms: sneezing, dry cough, plus or minus nasal discharge, plus or minus fever, increased lung sounds, swelling of submandibular lymph nodes. One of the major problems with this disease is that some cats may not show ANY sign of infection and still be a "carrier" of the disease. This situation allows for many cats to become infected and the source will be unknown.
Diagnosis of Bordetella infection requires culturing the bacteria from an oropharyngeal swab easily obtained by your veterinarian. All cats and kittens should have their blood tested for feline leukemia and feline immunodeficiency virus, feline infectious peritonitis, and to rule out the possibility of feline distemper virus when presented for any illness, depending upon their vaccination history.
Treatment is not difficult and often the infection goes away on its own. Sometimes, however, the infection can quickly progress to pneumonia (possibly even death) if not treated; depending upon the severity of the infection and presence of other pathogens (viruses and bacteria). The Bordetella organism is responsive to many antibiotics and if treated early on, prognosis is good.