Clinical and molecular study of upper respiratory tract infections of cats caused by Bordetella bronchiseptica in cats at Baghdad city.

This study included clinical and molecular study of Bordetella bronchiseptica from upper respiratory tract of 150 cats with and without respiratory signs of (60 local breed and 90 different breed) and both sexes (70 male and 80 female) with different ages including 85 cats more than one year and 65 less than one year private veterinary clinics and Baghdad veterinary hospital in Baghdad city at the period from October 2023 to September 2024.Totally, 150 nasal swabs were collected from cats at aseptic condition to carry out for bacteriology isolation by culturing Blood agar and Bordet Gengou agar base for culturing of B. bronchiseptica. Then the bacteria were examined by Gram stain and apply different biochemical and antimicrobial study using Vetik analysis of isolated bacteria with confirmative diagnosis by molecular detection of FIM gene of B. bronchiseptica. The results of clinical study showed that the most frequent signs were fever and dyspnea. The total isolation rate of B. bronchiseptica was 4.6%. The DNA of 7 isolates of B. bronchiseptica was successfully amplified by using specific primers at 425 bp of FIM gene of B. bronchiseptica. The isolates of B. bronchiseptica showed a high degree of resistance (100%) to Piperacillin, cefotaxime, Aztreonam, Doxycycline, Minocycline and Tetracycline, while these isolates were sensitive to Levofloxacin (85.7%) and Tobramycin (57.1%). The infection rate of B. bronchiseptica were increased at age group less than one year and females. No significant variation was observed among the breed of cats, infection rate of B. bronchiseptica was increased in Himalaya than other breed. The results revealed to a significant variation of infection rates among the months of study, the highest percentage of infections by B. bronchiseptica appeared in December (23%). The results of sequencing of seven isolates of B. bronchiseptica showed homology with strains in Gene bank. It had been deposited under accession numbers for B.bronchiseptica respectively; CP019934.1, CP049918.1, CP022962.2 LR134480.1, CP020819.1, CP014013.2, CP132332.1, AP014582.1, X74119.1, AY289621.1, and HE965806.1. In conclusion, the results of phylogenetic study revealed that the local isolates B. bronchiseptica of variable origins, these confirm their importance as primary pathogens of many diseases due to their widespread in the environment and their ability to infect humans and different animals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]