Introduction

• Pathological dilation of bronchi.
• Cause: congenital or inflammatory bronchial disease.
• Signs: cough, dyspnea.
• Diagnosis: radiography.
• Treatment: long-term.
• Prognosis: guarded.

Pathogenesis

Etiology

• Primary bronchial infection or chronic inflammation.
• Secondary infection or as a sequela of pneumonia Lung: bacterial pneumonia.
• Ciliary dyskinesia Primary ciliary dyskinesia.
• Congenital, eg Kartagener's syndrome.

Predisposing factors

• Poor control of chronic bronchitis Chronic bronchitis /bronchopneumonia Lung: bacterial pneumonia.

Pathophysiology

• Chronic pulmonary disease → chronic airway inflammation, poor ciliary performance, increased secretions → increased airway resistance, increased respiratory effort → air trapped within lung → alveolar hypoventilation → destruction of airway architecture and loss of elasticity of airway walls.
• Poor airway hygiene → recurrent problems with bacterial overgrowth, bronchitis, pneumonia.
• Congenital bronchiectasis associated with ciliary dyskinesia. Affected animals are usually young, and often have concurrent rhinitis with nasal discharge because the nasal mucosa is also lined with ciliated epithelial cells. Clinical signs may be seen in other organs that rely on ciliary function which is abnormal everywhere in the body, eg sperm motility, hydrocephalus.

Timecourse

• Variable, usually chronic clinical signs over a period of weeks to months.

Diagnosis

Treatment

Outcomes