ARS | Publication request: Bordetella bronchiseptica in a paediatric cystic fibrosis patient: possible transmission from a household cat

Submitted to: Zoonoses and Public Health
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: October 13, 2011
Publication Date: June 1, 2012
Citation: Register, K.B., Sukumar, N., Palavecino, E.L., Rubin, B.K., Deora, R. 2012. Bordetella bronchiseptica in a paediatric cystic fibrosis patient: possible transmission from a household cat. Zoonoses and Public Health. 59(4):246-250.

Interpretive Summary: Bordetella bronchiseptica is closely related to the bacterium that causes whooping cough, Bordetella pertussis. While B. pertussis infects only humans, B. bronchiseptica commonly infects a variety of companion and farm animals to which humans are frequently exposed, including cats and dogs. Human infections occasionally occur, most frequently in immunocompromised individuals. Here we describe B. bronchiseptica infection of a pediatric cystic fibrosis patient and present evidence for transmission from a household cat. This report underscores the need to counsel cystic fibrosis patients regarding adherence to practices that minimize opportunities for zoonotic transmission of B. bronchiseptica.

Technical Abstract: Bordetella bronchiseptica was isolated from the sputum of a cystic fibrosis patient recently exposed to a kitten with an acute respiratory disease. Genetic characterization of the isolate and comparison with other isolates of human or feline origin strongly implicate the kitten as the source of infection.