Dogs’ sense of smell to help detect deadly cystic fibrosis bacteria

The capacity of dogs to detect specific bacteria holds promise for individuals with cystic fibrosis, a prevalent genetic disorder. 

In this condition, a faulty protein causes mucus accumulation in organs, particularly the lungs, leading to persistent and progressively worsening infections. 

Current methods are invasive, expensive, and can’t be used frequently. This is where Jodie and her fellow canine detectives come in.

Dogs offer a potential solution by providing a non-invasive, efficient, and potentially more frequent detection method.

Detecting pseudomonas

Dogs possess over 300 million olfactory receptors (smell receptors), which allows them to detect far fainter odors.

In controlled trials, Jodie and other trained dogs were able to identify pseudomonas in laboratory samples accurately. They walked around sniffing samples on stands, and when they detected the bacteria, they sat down, indicating a successful identification.

“We showed that in laboratory settings dogs can detect pseudomonas in samples,” Davies told the Guardian. 

The modulator drugs are currently used for the treatment of cystic fibrosis patients. 

However, these drugs make bacterial infections harder to detect. The drugs reduce mucus, which makes it harder to collect sputum samples for bacterial testing. 

This is where the use of dogs becomes a valuable alternative for detection.

“We believe Jodie and her fellow medical detective dogs point to a new way to spot infected individuals, just by having a sniff of their socks or shirts. They could become a major help in tackling antimicrobial resistance and conditions like cystic fibrosis,” added Davies. 

Non-invasive method

Dogs‘ keen sense of smell could help in the early detection of these infections as well as improve the management and treatment of cystic fibrosis patients.

The treatment of cystic fibrosis has seen progress in the last eighty years. 

Previously, the disease was a death sentence for most patients in their teenage years. However, the development of modulator drugs has increased life expectancy, allowing patients to live well into old age. 

Despite this success, these drugs do not completely eradicate the chronic lung infections that plague individuals with cystic fibrosis. 

The patients may remain susceptible to persistent bacterial infections, which continue to pose a serious threat to their health and longevity.

Pseudomonas bacteria often exhibit antibiotic resistance, and therefore, accurate detection is key to prescribing the correct antibiotics. 

The team hopes to expand this dog-based method to detect other infectious diseases as well.

Quick and accurate detection means faster, targeted treatment, reducing the reliance on broad-spectrum antibiotics and slowing the spread of antimicrobial resistance.

Reportedly, Davies’ team has received funding to expand their research, aiming to train dogs to detect pseudomonas bacteria directly from patients’ skin, urine, or clothing. This would be a significant advancement in non-invasive bacterial detection.

This is not the first time dogs have been used to detect disease in humans. Back in 2018, researchers demonstrated that dogs can detect malaria by sniffing socks. 

Moreover, dogs hold the potential to detect prostate and thyroid cancers, and low blood sugar in diabetic patients.