title: Bordetella bronchiseptica infection of rats and mice.
abstract: Bordetella bronchiseptica has long been associated with respiratory tract infections in laboratory research, food-producing, companion, and wildlife animal species. Its range of distribution also may include humans and contaminated inanimate environmental sources. Natural diseases due to B. bronchiseptica infections in laboratory rats and mice were described before many of the major pathogens of these hosts were discovered. To our knowledge, there are no recent reports of natural disease due to B. bronchiseptica in these species; as a result, some have questioned its role as a natural pathogen in murine hosts. We reviewed occurrence of natural B. bronchiseptica infections and present information gained from recent experimental infection studies in murine hosts. We also discuss the potential impact of natural B. bronchiseptica infections on research and methods of control.
authors.affiliation: Department of Comparative Medicine, The University of Tennessee, College of Veterinary Medicine, Knoxville, Tennessee 37996-4543, USA.
authors.forename: David A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Bemis
authors.forename: William R
authors.initials: WR
authors.lastname: Shek
authors.forename: Charles B
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Clifford
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001885:Bordetella Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D016950:Bordetella bronchiseptica / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000472:pathogenicity* / Q000502:physiology; D051379:Mice; D051381:Rats; D014774:Virulence / Q000235:genetics