Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Lung worm Aelurostrongylus abstrusus found in cats from Tirana Albania
By Knaus, Martin et al.·Published in Wiener klinische Wochenschrift·2011·Merial GmbH, Germany·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 We do not publish original research — every detail traces back to the citation above.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: Endoparasites of cats from the Tirana area and the first report on Aelurostrongylus abstrusus (Railliet, 1898) in Albania.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A group of free-roaming cats in the Tirana area were found to have a high rate of internal parasites, including a type called Aelurostrongylus abstrusus, which can cause breathing problems. Out of 18 cats examined, nine had adult worms in their lungs, indicating a significant infection rate. Other parasites, such as Toxocara cati and Dipylidium caninum, were also present in many of the cats. This study highlights the need for awareness and potential treatment for respiratory issues linked to these parasites in cats.
People also search for: cat breathing problems · cat parasites treatment · Aelurostrongylus abstrusus symptoms · free-roaming cat health issues
Abstract
Following the recovery of first-stage nematode larvae indicative of Aelurostrongylus abstrusus infection in the faeces of free-roaming cats from the greater Tirana area, examination of 18 cats at necropsy revealed nine of them harbouring adult A. abstrusus (Railliet, 1898) in the lungs (prevalence, 50%; range, 1-11). In addition to A. abstrusus, Eucoleus aerophilus (16.7%; 1-9) was isolated from the lungs, and Toxocara cati (83.3%; 2-33), Ancylostoma tubaeforme (44.4%; 1-20), Dipylidium caninum (83.3%; 1-164), Joyeuxiella pasqualei (11.1%; 1-3) and one specimen of an acanthocephalan (5.5%) were recovered from the gastrointestinal tract. Furthermore, oocysts of Cystoisospora felis and C. rivolta were found in the rectal faeces of 5.6% and 11.1% of the cats, respectively. In conclusion, the prevalence of endoparasite infection in free-roaming cats in Tirana can be considered to be high. The occurrence of A. abstrusus, which may cause respiratory distress in cats, is reported for the first time in Albania.
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/21633814/