A mysterious respiratory illness has affected numerous dogs across the United States, and researchers believe it could be caused by a new type of bacterial infection that has the ability to evade the canine immune system. The symptoms of the illness include a persistent cough, runny eyes, and sneezing, and have led to fatalities in some cases.
Researchers at the University of New Hampshire have identified a pathogen that could be responsible for the illness. Genetic sequencing has revealed a previously unknown bacterium that has proved to be elusive due to its small size and genome, making it challenging to detect and sequence.
Dr. David Needle, from the College of Life Sciences and Agriculture at the University of New Hampshire, explains that the bacteria could be a new potential cause of a disease or could have evolved from a component of the dog microbiome – the communities of microorganisms that live both inside and outside the body.
The University of New Hampshire team is sharing its findings with veterinarians before publishing a research article in hopes of aiding the treatment of other respiratory syndrome outbreaks. However, researchers have not yet confirmed if the illness affecting dogs in various states is caused by the same bacterium.
The respiratory illness has been reported in multiple states, and some researchers speculate that it could be caused by a bacterial or viral pathogen. Despite extensive testing, veterinarians have been unable to recognize the pathogen responsible for the outbreak.
The Oregon Agriculture Department reports over 200 cases of the respiratory infection, and other states, such as North Carolina, Rhode Island, and Virginia, have also seen potential cases.
Due to the lack of a test for the illness, the number of affected dogs remains unknown. As a result, determining the most effective antibiotics to combat the new bacteria has proven to be challenging, as the pathogen has yet to be grown in a lab. However, researchers believe that doxycycline may be an effective treatment.
The smaller size of the pathogen increases the likelihood of it bypassing a dog’s defenses, potentially leading to pneumonia. The dogs’ illnesses largely manifest as inflammation of the tubes connecting the throat and lungs, leading to pneumonia that has shown minimal response to antibiotics and can rapidly progress to severe illness and death.
The lack of clarity surrounding the cause of the illness has led experts to advise dog owners to avoid kennels and other crowded areas where infection is more likely to occur. They recommend close collaboration with veterinarians and ensuring that dogs are up to date on all available vaccines, especially those for respiratory diseases.
Ultimately, experts encourage dog owners to consider options such as hiring a house sitter or dog walker and avoiding large gatherings of dogs to protect their pets from the respiratory illness. After all, it’s best to keep dogs in a familiar environment where they are likely to be happiest.
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