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Peer-reviewed veterinary case report

Cat with breathing trouble died from larva in chest infection

By Fitzgerald, S D et al.·Published in Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association·1996·Department of Pathology, United States·View original on PubMed

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Original publication title: A fatal case of intrathoracic cuterebriasis in a cat.

Species:
cat

Plain-English summary

A 7-year-old male domestic shorthair cat was brought to the vet because he was lethargic, had a fever, and was sneezing. Despite aggressive treatment, his condition worsened, leading to severe breathing problems and ultimately death. A post-mortem examination revealed a Cuterebra larva in his trachea, which is an unusual location for this parasite. The cat's death was caused by damage to the tissues and a severe allergic reaction. This case highlights the importance of considering Cuterebra migration when a cat shows signs of breathing difficulties.

People also search for: cat sneezing lethargy · cat breathing problems treatment · Cuterebra in cats symptoms

Abstract

A seven-year-old, castrated male domestic shorthair was presented with lethargy, fever, and sneezing. In spite of intensive therapy, the cat's condition progressively worsened to severe dyspnea and death. At necropsy, a single, second instar larval stage of Cuterebra sp. was found in the trachea. This represents an unusual site for Cuterebra migration in an aberrant host. The cause of death was attributed to a combination of local tissue damage and anaphylaxis. Veterinarians should include Cuterebra migration in their differential diagnosis list for dyspnea.

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Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8784727/