Aelurostrongylus disease

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Sections available in full article Introduction, Presenting signs, Acute presentation, Geographic incidence, Age predisposition, Sex predisposition, Special risks (e.g. anesthetic), Pathogenesis, Etiology, Predisposing factors, Pathophysiology, Timecourse (incubation, duration), Epidemiology (population dynamics), Diagnosis, Presenting problems, Client history, Clinical signs, Diagnostic investigation, Confirmation of diagnosis, Gross autopsy findings, Histopathology findings, Differential diagnosis, Treatment, Initial symptomatic treatment, Monitoring, Prevention, Control, Prophylaxis, Sequelae, Prognosis, Expected response to treatment, Reasons for treatment failure, Sources, Publications, Vetstream contributor(s),
Contributors Dr Grace Mulcahy MVB PhD MRCVS
Dr Stephen Barr BVSc MVS PhD DipACVIM
Prof Richard Malik DVSc DipVetAn MVetClinStud FACVSc PhD FASM
Synonyms lungworm, aelurostrongylosis

Introduction

  • Cause : Aelurostrongylus abstrusus infection is relatively common in domestic cats.
  • Signs : many cases are not clinically important.
  • The parasites live in the terminal bronchioles and alveolar ducts.
  • Heavy infections cause dyspnea/hyperpnea and coughing.
  • Diagnosis : detection of larvae in feces following Baermann examination; they can also be seen in routine fecal flotation and may be seen in bronchial wasings or BAL fluid.
  • Treatment : fenbendazole, ivermectin and moxidectin are effective in eliminating infections. Routine monthly prevention using flea products containing ivermectin-like compounds is the best way to prevent symptomatic infections developing.

Diagnosis

Clinical signs

  • Abnormal breath sounds on thoracic auscultation.
  • Increased tracheal sensitivity.
  • Sudden respiratory distress.

Diagnosis

Differential diagnosis

  • Viral or bacterial pneumonia  Pneumonia  .
  • Toxocara cati infection  Toxocara cati  .
  • Toxicological lung damage.
  • Congestive heart failure  Congestive heart failure  .
  • Heartworm infection  Feline cardiopulmonary dirofilariasis  .
  • Feline asthma  Allergic bronchitis  .
  • Tracheal foreign bodies  Trachea: foreign body  .

Sequelae

Prognosis

  • General debilitating factors, senility, immunosuppression compromise outlook.

Expected response to treatment

  • Adequate anthelmintic treatment usually leads to rapid resolution of clinical signs and reversal of radiographic changes.

Reasons for treatment failure

  • Occasionally cases are non-responsive or exacerbate following treatment.
  • Undefined factors rendering some individuals prone to severe disease.
  • Immunosuppression.
  • Debility.

Sources

Publications

Refereed papers

  • Recent references fromPubMed.
  • Foster S F, Martin P, Allan G Set al(2004)Lower respiratory tract infections: 21 cases (1995-2000).J Fel Med Surg6(3), 167-180PubMed.
  • Naylor J R, Hamilton, J M & Weatherley A J (1984)Changes in the ultrastructure of feline pulmonary arteries following infection with the lungworm Aelurostrongylus abstrusus.Br Vet J140, 181-188.
  • Losonsky J M, Thrall D & Prestwood A K (1982)Radiographic evaluation of pulmonary abnormalities after Aelurostrongylus abstrusus inoculation in cats.Am J Vet Res44(3), 478-482. (There are few good recent reviews of aelurostrongylosis in cats in the recent literature. The above references, although quite old, are good descriptions of the pathological, and radiographic features of the disease.)

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