Oral Bordetella Protection

Hello Summarians!

A single oral dose of kennel cough vaccine protects puppies within seven days, and it does so before measurable antibodies even appear. The protection is coming from the mucosal immune system, not the bloodstream. That is a meaningful distinction.

This week also covers tape-stripping skin for genetic research in atopic dogs and ocular thermography as a less invasive alternative to rectal temperature checks.

Three studies on doing things a little differently. Two of them may actually work.

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Tape Stripping For Atopy Diagnosis In Dogs

This proof-of-concept study evaluated three minimally invasive skin sampling techniques—tape-stripping, microbiopsy collection, and deep skin scraping—for their suitability in transcriptomic research in dogs, particularly those with canine atopic dermatitis. The goal was to identify sampling methods that could replace traditional punch biopsies while reducing discomfort and improving animal welfare. Nine client-owned dogs, including healthy individuals and dogs with atopic dermatitis, were sampled without sedation. Researchers assessed the procedures for patient tolerability, clinical practicality, RNA yield, RNA integrity, and performance during RNA sequencing. 

All three techniques were well tolerated, with no signs of significant pain or distress. Minor skin changes resolved quickly, and owners reported few complications. Skin scraping was simple and rapid, while microbiopsy collection was also quick but technically more difficult because tissue retrieval from the device was challenging. Tape-stripping required the most time because multiple strips were needed, but it remained practical for routine clinical use. 

The methods differed substantially in RNA quality. Skin scraping and microbiopsy produced consistently low RNA concentrations with poor integrity, making them unsuitable for transcriptomic analysis. Tape-stripping generated the highest RNA yield and better RNA integrity, although results varied considerably among samples. RNA sequencing demonstrated that most genetic material originated from canine tissue with minimal contamination from human or microbial sources. However, degraded RNA and suspected genomic DNA contamination reduced the proportion of reads mapping to functional genes, limiting the reliability of downstream gene expression analyses despite acceptable sequencing quality metrics. 

The authors concluded that tape-stripping is the most promising minimally invasive technique for transcriptomic studies in dogs, but additional improvements in sample collection, RNA extraction, and DNA removal are necessary to achieve consistent, high-quality results. They emphasize that tape-stripping should complement rather than replace traditional biopsies because each method captures different biological information. Overall, this work establishes a foundation for less invasive molecular studies that may improve biomarker discovery, treatment monitoring, and precision medicine in veterinary dermatology.

I. Herrmann, L. B. Mamo, and A. N. Dickey, “Tolerability and Feasibility of Minimally Invasive Canine Skin Sampling: Excellent Tolerability Meets Transcriptomic Challenges,” Veterinary Dermatology37, no. 3 (2026): 375–385, https://doi.org/10.1111/vde.70044.

Bottom line — Interesting pilot study.

Oral Bordetella Protection

This study evaluated how quickly a live-attenuated oral vaccine against Bordetella bronchiseptica (Vanguard B Oral) provides protection in young dogs. Bordetella bronchiseptica is a major cause of canine infectious respiratory disease complex (CIRDC), commonly known as kennel cough, and is especially common in kennels, shelters, and other environments where dogs have close contact. 

Researchers conducted a randomized, blinded, placebo-controlled trial using forty healthy 8-week-old Beagle puppies. Half received a single oral dose of the vaccine, while the other half received a placebo. Seven days later, all puppies were exposed to a virulent strain of Bordetella bronchiseptica by aerosol. The investigators then monitored clinical signs, body temperature, bacterial shedding, and antibody responses for three weeks. 

The vaccine significantly reduced the severity of respiratory disease. Eighty-five percent of placebo-treated puppies developed coughing on at least two consecutive days, compared with only 20% of vaccinated dogs. Vaccinated puppies also coughed less frequently and for a shorter period, averaging 2.4 days compared with 5.5 days in the control group. Overall clinical disease scores were significantly lower in vaccinated dogs, even after excluding mild nasal and eye discharge from the analysis. Although most vaccinated dogs still shed bacteria after challenge, they tended to shed for fewer days than controls, though this difference did not reach statistical significance. No significant adverse reactions were observed, confirming that the vaccine was well tolerated. 

Antibody levels remained low before challenge, indicating that protection developed before a measurable systemic antibody response. Following challenge, vaccinated dogs developed significantly higher antibody titers than controls, suggesting that early protection was likely mediated by mucosal immune responses rather than circulating antibodies. The findings demonstrate that a single oral dose of Vanguard B Oral can provide meaningful protection against Bordetella bronchiseptica as early as seven days after vaccination, reducing coughing and overall disease severity while offering a practical, needle-free vaccination option for dogs at risk of respiratory infection.

Wappel, S., Velineni, S., King, V., Abma, E., Hoevers, J., Martorell, S., Houser, C., Tague, A., Wilmes, L., & Millership, J. (2026). Oral administration of a live-attenuated Bordetella bronchiseptica vaccine (Vanguard B Oral) induces protective immunity against challenge 7 days after vaccination in dogs. American Journal of Veterinary Research https://doi.org/10.2460/ajvr.26.03.0100

Bottom line — Early results support this as a beneficial protocol

Ocular Thermography

This study evaluated the diagnostic accuracy of ocular infrared thermography, which measures eye temperature (ET), and rectal thermometry (RT) for detecting abnormal body temperature in dogs when no perfect reference standard exists. Researchers studied 238 observations from 121 shelter dogs, including both puppies and adults, and used a hierarchical Bayesian latent-class analysis to estimate the sensitivity and specificity of each method. This statistical approach allows diagnostic performance to be estimated even when the true disease status cannot be directly confirmed. Dogs with ocular disease were excluded, and both eye and rectal temperatures were measured while the animals remained in their kennels to minimize stress. 

Both ET and RT demonstrated high specificity but relatively low sensitivity. Eye temperature had a sensitivity of approximately 40% and a specificity of 94%, while rectal thermometry had a sensitivity of 32% and an excellent specificity of 99%. These findings indicate that when either test identifies an abnormal temperature, the result is usually correct, but many dogs with abnormal core temperatures may still receive normal test results. Consequently, abnormal readings substantially increase the likelihood that a dog truly has an abnormal body temperature, whereas normal readings provide little reassurance when clinical suspicion remains high. 

The study also evaluated combinations of the two tests. Using either test as positive (the OR rule) produced the highest negative predictive value, while requiring both tests to be positive (the AND rule) produced the highest positive predictive value. However, because abnormal temperatures were uncommon in this shelter population, neither approach greatly improved the ability to rule out disease after a negative result. 

The authors conclude that ocular infrared thermography performs similarly to rectal thermometry and offers the advantage of being completely noninvasive and less stressful. Nevertheless, neither method should be used in isolation to exclude abnormal body temperature. Instead, both tests should be interpreted alongside the patient's history, physical examination, and overall clinical assessment. Ocular thermography may serve as a valuable screening tool, but it complements rather than replaces conventional clinical evaluation.

Rostami, S., Woodruff, K. A., McBride, A., & Smith, D. R. (2026). Ocular thermography and rectal thermometry show similar diagnostic performance for detecting abnormal body temperature in dogs. American Journal of Veterinary Research https://doi.org/10.2460/ajvr.26.04.0185 

Bottom line — Interesting possibilities.

Just putting things in perspective …