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2. What is the role of Bordetella bronchiseptica in Swine respiratory diseases?

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Swine
Authors

Hau, S. J.; Brockmeier, S. L. (National Animal Disease Center, United States Department of Agriculture)

Bordetella bronchiseptica causes non-progressive atrophic rhinitis in nursery pigs, and predisposes animals to secondary infections. This is why, when present, it should not be considered a commensal, especially in a context in which the trend towards antibiotic reduction has resulted in a re-emergence of this bacterium.

Bordetella bronchiseptica is a widespread, highly infectious cause of respiratory disease in swine. Disease varies from mild, subclinical infections to severe pneumonia or atrophic rhinitis. B. bronchiseptica also exacerbates viral respiratory infection and enhances colonization and/or disease with other bacterial pathogens.

Vaccination improves clinical health and performance, but elimination of B. bronchiseptica can be challenging due to the difficulty of fully clearing the bacterium using vaccines and antibiotics.

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