The mysterious respiratory illness that may have sickened dozens of dogs across the country could be caused by a new type of bacterial infection that could be very good at evading dogs’ immune systems, researchers say. Some dogs have died from the disease, which starts with coughing that can last for weeks, watery eyes and sneezing.
In a development that could help shed light on the disease, which has affected a range of dog breeds, researchers from the University of New Hampshire Veterinary Diagnosis Laboratory and the Hubbard Center for Genome Studies told NBC News they have identified a pathogen which may be the cause of the disease. make pets sick.
By genetically sequencing samples from an initial group of 30 dogs from New Hampshire that were infected last year and then another 40 dogs from Rhode Island and Massachusetts that became ill this year, researchers say they have discovered a previously unknown pathogen.
The pathogen is “a funky bacterium,” says Dr. David Needle, section chief of pathology at the University of New Hampshire’s College of Life Sciences and Agriculture. “It is smaller than a normal bacterium, both in size and in the size of its genome. Long story short: it’s a weird bacterium that can be difficult to find and sequence.”
The germ “is new as a potential cause of disease, but is likely – or evolved from – part of the dog microbiome,” he said. Both dogs and humans have multiple species of harmless bacteria and other microorganisms that live both inside and outside the body. In the intestines they are thought to aid in digestion.
The bacterium was discovered after a difficult search.
“After initial sequencing showed there were no known viral, bacterial or fungal pathogens, time-consuming and persistent work by graduate student Lawrence Gordon showed that 21 of the first 30 samples from New Hampshire contained some genetic material from one atypical bacterial species,” Needle said . .
The UNH team is sharing its results before publishing a research paper, hoping they will give veterinarians some information about how to deal with other respiratory syndrome outbreaks, he said.
Scientists aren’t even sure yet whether the same bug is making dogs sick across the country. Many researchers have wondered whether it was a bacterial or viral pathogen. One thing vets do know is that the germ is something they don’t recognize.
New Hampshire is one of a few states that have reported cases of respiratory infection in dogs.
The Oregon Agriculture Department has received more than 200 case reports from veterinarians across the state since early August, spokesperson Andrea Cantu-Schomus said in an email. A very small percentage of the dogs have died, Cantu-Scomus said.
Other states with reported cases include:
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Colorado
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California
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Indiana
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Illinois
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Washington
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Idaho
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Georgia
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Florida
Because there is no test yet for the disease and because many of the symptoms are similar to those of other respiratory infections, such as canine flu and Bordetella (kennel cough), it is not known exactly how many dogs are affected. Because hundreds of cases have been identified from symptoms reported only in Oregon, there are likely thousands.
Normally, to determine which antibiotics work best against a particular type of bacteria, laboratories grow the insects in a petri dish and then try to kill them with various drugs. Needle and his colleagues were unable to grow the new bacteria in the laboratory. Nevertheless, its structure offers some clues about which drugs might be the best choice to combat it, he said. The antibiotic doxycycline may be effective, he suggested.
If it turns out that the New Hampshire researchers have found the right microbe, it could explain why some dogs become very sick, said Dr. Karl Jandrey, professor of small animal clinical emergency and critical care at the University of California, Davis. School of Veterinary Medicine.
Smaller pathogens will likely have an easier time getting past a dog’s defense mechanisms in the upper respiratory tract and into the lungs, he said. “If it gets into the lungs, there is a risk of pneumonia,” he added.
According to Cantu-Scomus of Oregon, the dogs’ diseases develop largely in three ways:
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As an inflammation of the tubes that connect the throat to the lungs and which responds minimally or not to antibiotics.
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As chronic pneumonia that responds minimally or not at all to antibiotics.
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As acute pneumonia that quickly becomes severe and often leads to severe illness or possibly death within 24 to 36 hours.
If a dog has a cough that won’t stop and other respiratory symptoms, it is recommended that the owner contact a veterinarian.
Although the respiratory symptoms resemble a viral illness, tests came back negative for a virus, Cantu-Scomus said.
It’s very unlikely the cause will turn out to be viral, says Colin Parrish, professor of virology at Cornell University’s College of Veterinary Medicine. “With the sequencing methods people use to look for unknown viruses, its signature would have been clear within a few days,” he added.
So it’s possible that the New Hampshire scientists have found the right pathogen, although their results need to be confirmed by more research, he said.
Even though a record number of Americans are expected to travel during the holidays, experts recommend that dog owners keep their pets out of kennels and other areas, such as dog parks, where infection may be more likely due to crowds and close contact.
“If you bring a number of animals together, you are more likely to catch an infectious disease from other dogs,” says Dr. Kurt Williams, director of the Oregon Veterinary Diagnostic Lab at the Carlson College of Veterinary Medicine at Oregon State University.
Still, he said, there are some facilities where you’re less likely to experience a problem because of the way they’re designed.
“I’ve told people they need to work closely with their vet,” Williams said. “And to make sure their dog has all available vaccines, especially the respiratory disease vaccines that we know about.”
Another option is for owners to hire a house sitter, Needle said. “Or hire a dog walker,” he added. “It may not be perfect, but it’s better than nothing. You might also consider having Thanksgiving at home.”
Ultimately, your dog may be happier at home if a house sitter or dog walker visits several times a day rather than going to a kennel, Jandrey said.
“It’s best to leave them in their own environment,” he added.
This article was originally published on NBCNews.com