Lungworm infections in dogs and cats and their health risks

Abstract

Our understanding of lungworm infection in dogs and cats has improved considerably over the last decade and significant progress has been made on many fronts, especially in the diagnosis and treatment of lungworm diseases. Despite this progress, lungworm infections due to Angiostrongylus vasorum (dog lungworm) and Aelurostrongylus abstrusus (cat lungworm), as well as other respiratory worm species, continue to impose a significant challenge to the health and welfare of dogs and cats. Infections with some of these parasites are potentially life-threatening, and detection of infection is challenging due to the wide spectrum of clinical signs and the high frequency of subclinical infection. Current diagnostics, although very useful, are not perfect. The many ways by which lungworms can be maintained in nature create more opportunities for dogs and cats to come across the infective stages and succumb to the disease. The principal treatment for lungworm disease is the administration of effective anthelmintics to eliminate adult worms and reduce or stop larval faecal shedding, and to reduce the severity of clinical signs and lung damage. Given that already there are considerable risks to the health and welfare of dogs and cats, implementation of integrated parasite control strategies are crucial in order to mitigate the risks caused by lungworms and to improve treatment outcomes.