Vaccination
Bordetella bronchiseptica:
Should all dogs be vaccinated?
- Published on August 1, 2026
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Canine infectious respiratory disease (CIRD) is caused by a complex of viral and bacterial pathogens. B. bronchiseptica, a bacteria, is one of the most important pathogens isolated from dogs with CIRD.1
The role of B. bronchiseptica in disease is to produce exotoxins, proteins excreted by bacteria in the dog’s respiratory tract to impair host cells. These exotoxins inhibit ciliary function in the respiratory tract allowing a buildup of excess mucus in the airway. Through these activities, B. bronchiseptica is uniquely capable of facilitating co-colonization of the respiratory tract by other opportunistic bacterial and viral pathogens.2
Though other bacterial and viral respiratory pathogens typically result in minor respiratory disease, a co-infection with B. bronchiseptica will often result in more severe clinical disease because B. bronchiseptica impairs the function and integrity of the respiratory tract.1
While dogs at higher risk (in boarding kennels, high population housing, attending dog parks, dog shows, etc.) warrant vaccination with a multi-antigen, mucosal vaccine,2,3 protecting dogs at lower risk with a monovalent, mucosal B. bronchiseptica vaccine will limit the possibility of other respiratory co-infections. The most recent canine vaccination guidelines3 recommend mucosal intranasal (IN) vaccination as the preferable route of administration for the broadest protection available against respiratory pathogens.
Is mucosal vaccination a must?
Because circulating maternal antibodies are not present on the mucous membranes of young puppies, they do not affect the primary immune response to mucosal vaccines so both the intranasal (IN) and oral Bordetella vaccines require only one vaccine in the initial puppy series.
Mucosal vaccines stop the shedding because they produce an immune response that communicates with and specifically targets the mucous membranes (See explanation below). The injectable Bb vaccines DO NOT stop the shedding because they do not stimulate a local mucosal response.2,4,5,6
Considering that this is a zoonotic disease it is essential to stop the shedding to control the spread of the bacteria. Mucosal vaccines provide better protection against clinical disease than parenteral vaccines.4,5 Only mucosal vaccines generate both the immune cells and antibody required and the local imprinting and transport proteins required to get these from the circulation onto the mucosal membranes through healthy intact respiratory tissue.6,7
Explanation
“Activating a mucosal immune response relies on antigen being taken up and presented to mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT). In MALT, antigen is processed and presented to naïve B and T lymphocytes which subsequently proliferate and differentiate into effector and memory B and T lymphocytes. Activated B and T cells drain via the efferent lymphatics to regional lymphoid tissue where they undergo imprinting to assist in homing back to mucosal tissues. [injectable vaccines do not do this]. These markers allow effector and memory cells to preferentially migrate through the blood back to mucosal effector sites where they can respond to the initiating threat. Memory cells are particularly adept at homing back to mucosal sites, which is critical if there is to be rapid protection after a second exposure to a pathogen.
Mucosal effector responses targeting pathogens include either immune exclusions or elimination. Immune exclusion results from production of secretory pathogen-specific IgA which prevents binding and entry of the pathogens through the mucosal epithelial barrier.
Other classes of antibody, in particular IgG, are present in serum and work after the onset of infection in a process called immune elimination. However, pathogen invasion, damage and activation of inflammatory pathways must allow for increased vascular permeability in order for IgG antibodies to extravasate and reach their target in mucosal tissues.”6
“Mucosal vaccination compartmentalizes pathogen-specific immune responses to the site of exposure and can also stimulate systemic immune responses. Additionally, memory cells home to and reside in mucosal tissue for rapid secondary responses to the pathogen. As a result, prime boost strategies can be effectively accomplished with mucosal vaccines.”6,7,8
Zoonotic disease
According to Greene’s Infectious Diseases of the Dog and Cat:1
“Bordetella bronchiseptica is an uncommon cause of respiratory disease in humans, but has been isolated from humans without clinical signs and humans with mild to severe respiratory disease, including pneumonia. Most, but not all, affected humans have underlying immunosuppressive conditions that predispose them to infection. Bordetella bronchiseptica peritonitis has been reported in human patients receiving continuous peritoneal dialysis. Bacteremia and meningitis have also been reported.
Recent exposure to cats and to dogs with signs of “kennel cough” has been noted in most but not all human cases, and airborne transmission between humans can occur in hospital settings.
Infections with B. bronchiseptica may be under-recognized in people, because the direct fluorescent antibody test used for diagnosis of pertussis may not distinguish between B. pertussis and B. bronchiseptica. Clinically, recognition of B. bronchiseptica infections in humans is important, because B. bronchiseptica is resistant to macrolides, which are first-line agents for pertussis.”
In addition, in the year 2000, the Canadian Paediatric Society listed B. bronchiseptica as a risk to people in a review article entitled Healthy Pets, Healthy People: How to avoid the diseases that pets spread to people. The article states:
“The best prevention [against human infection of B. bronchiseptica] is to vaccinate your dog and keep it away from places where there are lots of dogs in a small space.” 9
Human infections of B. bronchiseptica can cause cough and cold-like symptoms, as well as pneumonia and tracheobronchitis.10,11 Given the challenges associated with determining the health status of those whom the dog may come in contact with, it seems prudent to recommend routine vaccination against B. bronchiseptica for most dogs.
B. bronchiseptica also causes severe disease in Rabbits11, Guinea Pigs11, Cats1 and Horses12.
Limiting the shedding of B. bronchiseptica from the dog should be considered an important part of controlling Bb spread to people and other animals. Mucosal vaccines provide better protection against clinical disease than parenteral vaccines and also limit the shedding of B. bronchiseptica.4,5
Offer complete protection to your canine patients from an early age
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REFERENCES
1. Greene CE. Infectious Disease of the Dog and Cat. 5th ed. Saunders Elsevier; 2022.
2. Hurley K. Canine Infectious Respiratory Disease Update (SIS6), Western Veterinary Conference. 2008. (available at: www.sheltermedicine.com)
3. 2022 AAHA Canine Vaccination Guidelines. https://www.aaha.org/aaha-guidelines/2022-aaha-canine vaccination-guidelines/home/home
4. Davis R et al. Comparison of the mucosal immune response in dogs vaccinated with either an intranasal avirulent live culture or subcutaneous antigen extract vaccine of Bordetella bronchiseptica. Vet Ther. 2007;8(1):32-40.
5. Larson LJ et al. A Comparative Study of Protective Immunity Provided by Oral, Intranasal and Parenteral Canine Bordetella bronchiseptica Vaccines. Intern J Appl Res Vet Med. 2013;11(3):153-160.
6. Reinero C. The critical role of mucosal immunity for protection against Bordetella bronchiseptica: Rationale for intranasal and oral vaccines. Clin Brief.
7. Tizard I.R. Veterinary Immunology and Introduction. 6th Ed. W.B Saunders Company.
8. Ellis JA et al. Comparative efficacy of intranasal and injectable vaccine in stimulating Bordetella bronchiseptica-reactive anamnestic antibody responses in household dogs. CVJ. 2017;58:809-815. 2015.
9. Canadian Pediatric Society, Pediatric Child Health. 2000;5(2):119-124.
10. Woofrey BF et al. Human Infections Associated with Bordetella bronchiseptica. Clin Micro Rev. 1991;4(3):243-2552014.
11. Cooper JE et al. BSAVA Manual of Exotic Pets.
12. Christy RM et al. A case control study of respiratory disease in Thoroughbred Race horses in Australia. Equine Vet J. 2001;33:256-264.