Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
How to diagnose lung infections in Brazilian cats and their risk
By Fagundes-Moreira, R et al.·Published in Journal of helminthology·2023·Programa de Pó, Brazil·View original on PubMed →
PetCaseFinder translated the abstract of this peer-reviewed paper into plain English so pet owners can read it. We do not publish original research — every detail traces back to the citation above. How we work →
Original publication title: Comparative analysis of diagnostic methods and risk factors forinfection in brazilian cats.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A group of 43 cats in Brazil with coughing and lung issues were tested for lungworm infection, which can cause serious respiratory problems. The researchers used several diagnostic methods, including a stool test (PCR) that is considered the best for detecting the infection. They found that 74% of the cats tested positive for lungworm using the PCR method, while 41% tested positive with a different method called the Baermann method. The study highlighted that lungworm should be considered when a cat has coughing or lung problems, and the Baermann method is a good, low-cost option for diagnosis, though not as reliable as PCR.
People also search for: cat coughing treatment · lungworm infection in cats · cat respiratory problems diagnosis
Abstract
This study aimed to prospectively evaluate the risk factors of infection byin Brazilian cats with cough and/or radiographic changes, using as diagnostic tools the Baermann method (BM), polymerase chain reaction (PCR) of feces, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), and cytology. Forty-three cats that were presented with cough or lung radiographic abnormalities compatible with bronchoalveolar disease were included in the study. After clinical evaluation, feces samples were collected to investigate lungworm parasitism through BM and PCR. BALF was performed to provide samples for cytology, bacteriology, and fungal culture. Stool PCR was considered the gold standard for diagnosis tests, and the other methods were evaluated by their agreement. PCR presented 74% (32/43) of positivity for, while in the BM, 41% (18/43) were positive. BM showed sensitivity of 56.25% and specificity of 100% when compared with PCR. No larva was found in the cytological evaluation of 21 BALF samples. Lungworm is an important cause of bronchopulmonary disease in domestic cats in Brazil and should be included as a differential diagnosis when a cat is presented with cough or radiographic abnormalities. BM is a sensitive, non-invasive, and cheap technique to diagnose the disease, but it is not as sensitive as PCR.
Find similar cases for your pet
PetCaseFinder finds other peer-reviewed reports of pets with the same symptoms, plus a plain-English summary of what was tried across them.
Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38073416/