8 - Bordetella and Alcaligenes

Abstract

Publisher Summary Members of genera Bordetella and Alcaligenes are small, nonfermentative, and gram-negative rods. They are catalase and oxidase positive. This chapter discusses these two genera together, because they have similar biochemical characteristics and have a significant degree of genetic relatedness as measured by ribosomal RNA-DNA hybridization studies. The two Bordetella species that are important as veterinary pathogens are Bordetella bronchiseptica and Bordetella avium. Bordetella bronchiseptica plays a major role in atrophic rhinitis in swine and infectious tracheobronchitis in dogs. This species also causes severe bronchopneumonia in young pigs. In guinea pigs, the Bordetella bronchiseptica infection results in epizootic pneumonia, which is characterized by high morbidity and mortality. Bordetella bronchiseptica is isolated from the respiratory infections in cats, rabbits, and horses. Occasionally, it is isolated from wound infections in humans and animals. Bordetella avium is the primary agent responsible for turkey coryza. It is isolated from the respiratory tracts of other avian species and plays a role in respiratory disease in chickens. Bordetella pertussis and Bordetella parapertussis are associated with whooping cough and a respiratory disease characterized as a mild form of whooping cough in humans, respectively. Alcaligenes species are saprophytic organisms residing in the intestinal tract of vertebrates. They are not ordinarily pathogenic but play a role as opportunistic invaders, especially in a compromised host. One of the species of Alcaligene is Alcaligenes faecalis. Alcaligenes faecalis forms two types of colonies on blood agar. The chapter reviews pathogenicity, isolation procedures, and identification of Bordetella and Alcaligenes.