Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Cat in Israel with severe lung worm infection causing breathing
By Yasur-Landau, Daniel et al.·Published in Veterinary parasitology, regional studies and reports·2019·Kimron Veterinary Institute·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 We do not publish original research — every detail traces back to the citation above.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: First molecular identification of Aelurostrongylus abstrusus in a cat presenting severe respiratory disease from Israel.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A domestic cat in Israel was brought to the vet with severe breathing problems and was diagnosed with a lung worm infection caused by Aelurostrongylus abstrusus. This parasite can lead to respiratory issues in cats, and it is becoming more common in various regions, including the Mediterranean. The diagnosis was confirmed using advanced testing methods. Treatment options typically include deworming medications, which can help clear the infection and improve the cat's breathing.
People also search for: cat breathing problems · lung worm infection in cats · Aelurostrongylus abstrusus treatment
Abstract
Feline lung worm infection is increasingly reported in recent years, and recognized as a cause for respiratory disease in cats. Aelurostrongylus abstrusus is regarded as the most prevalent cause of such cases. Infective L3 larvae carried in gastropods and paratenic hosts infect felines, developing to adult worms that reside in the lungs' parenchyma and may cause verminous pneumonia. The L1 larvae hatch from eggs deposited in the lung, and are released to the environment by either feces or sputum. While the majority of epidemiological information regarding A. abstrusus originates in European countries, recent studies have shown that it is also found around the Mediterranean basin, as far east as Turkey and Cyprus. A local domestic cat from Israel showing signs of respiratory illness was diagnosed with aelurostrongylosis, confirmed by both morphological and molecular tools. Presence in Israel of this nematode was previously reported in 1949, with no further mentions since. ITS-2 sequence of the isolated larvae was highly similar to that of A. abstrusus from domestic cats from Italy. These findings show that distribution of A. abstrusus stretch to the eastern shores of the Mediterranean, and that this nematode should be considered as a cause for respiratory disease in cats in Israel and the surrounding countries.
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/31303224/