Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Kitten with cough and lung infection from lungworm and salmonella
By Barrs, V R et al.·Published in Australian veterinary journal·1999·Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, United Kingdom·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Concurrent Aelurostrongylus abstrusus infection and salmonellosis in a kitten.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A 14-week-old kitten was brought in for vomiting, diarrhea, and fever, which went away on its own. Three weeks later, the kitten developed a severe dry cough, and X-rays showed lung issues. Tests revealed a lungworm infection (Aelurostrongylus abstrusus) and Salmonella bacteria in the kitten's lungs. The vet treated the kitten with a chest tube to help with breathing, along with antibiotics and a dewormer. Two years later, the kitten was reported to be healthy.
People also search for: kitten cough treatment · salmonella in cats · lungworm infection in kittens · kitten vomiting and diarrhea causes
Abstract
A 14-week-old kitten had a history of vomiting, diarrhoea and pyrexia, all of which resolved without treatment. Three weeks later the kitten developed a violent non-productive dry cough. Thoracic radiographs revealed pneumothorax and nodular alveolar disease. Aelurostrongylus abstrusus larvae and intracellular Gram-negative bacilli were seen in bronchial wash fluid and pleural exudate, and Salmonella Typhimurium was cultured from both fluids but not from faeces. Therapy included unilateral closed-tube thoracostomy, enrofloxacin and fenbendazole. Historical signs were compatible with gastrointestinal salmonellosis and secondary broncho-pneumonia. Seeding of the lungs with salmonellae may have occurred as a result of migration of A abstrusus from a gastro-intestinal tract residually infected or colonised by S Typhimurium. Alternatively, the development of lungworm infection in the cat may have activated quiescent S Typhimurium pulmonary granulomata from bacteraemia secondary to gastro-intestinal salmonellosis. Two years after diagnosis the cat was reportedly in good health.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10330552/