According to guidance provided by the AVMA, “Practitioners presented with dogs with clinical signs consistent with CIRDC are encouraged to pursue diagnostic testing immediately, during the acute phase of disease and before starting treatment, to assist in determining an etiology.”
Labs Currently Offering Testing for Canine Respiratory Disease (CRD)
The Athens Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory (AVDL) and Tifton Veterinary Diagnostic and Investigational Laboratory (TVDIL) offer testing for Canine Respiratory Disease (CRD) and are keeping a close watch for atypical canine respiratory disease cases.
To date neither laboratory has seen a major increase in submissions requesting testing for CRD.
Both laboratories have a comprehensive PCR panel for CRD that includes 9 canine respiratory pathogens (listed below).
- Bordetella bronchiseptica
- Mycoplasma canis
- Mycoplasma cynos
- Canine adenovirus type 2
- Influenza A (all subtypes – capability to do subtyping as well)
- Canine distemper virus
- Canine Respiratory Coronavirus
- Canine parainfluenza virus, and
- Streptococcus zooepidemicus
To date most of the tests conducted at both AVDL and TVDIL have been negative; however, there have been a low number of tests positive for parainfluenza, Bordetella, mycoplasma (M. cynos, M. canis), canine respiratory corona virus, and distemper virus.
Both labs are actively looking for novel canine pathogens that are not being detected by our current CRD PCR panel. Many veterinary diagnostic laboratories across the country are also looking for novel pathogens, but so far none have been confirmed. Both the AVDL and TVDIL will keep a close watch on this situation.
If you have any questions or would like to submit a case for testing please reach out to either the AVDL or TVDIL.
