Affects: Dogs
Atypical canine infectious respiratory disease complex (aCIRDC) is a proposed novel respiratory disease in dogs of unknown cause. It has been recorded in 19 US states, with more cases on the West Coast.
It has also been referred to as respiratory syndrome of unknown aetiology in dogs and as canine respiratory disease of unknown origin.
Cause: The cause is currently unknown.
The Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory at the University of New Hampshire have put forth a possible bacterium as the cause. They have tentatively identified this as IOLA KY405, which was previously identified in humans in 2021. This is similar to Mycoplasma in lacking a cell wall and having a small genome.
However, other vets have suggested that this might just represent a peak in CIRDC cases and not involve any new pathogens. This could be due to changes in human behaviour following the end of COVID-19 lockdowns and other COVID-19-related disruption to veterinary care (e.g. frequency of vaccination), as well as to the general increase in dog numbers in the US.