Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Mixed lungworm infection in Italian kittens from one litter
By Di Cesare, Angela et al.·Published in Parasitology research·2014·Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Italy·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Mixed infection by Aelurostrongylus abstrusus and Troglostrongylus brevior in kittens from the same litter in Italy.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
Two kittens, about 10-11 weeks old, were found to have a mixed infection of lungworms that can affect cats' breathing. One kitten showed severe respiratory problems and sadly passed away despite treatment with an anthelmintic medication. The other kitten had a milder infection and recovered well after receiving a different treatment called milbemycin oxime. This case highlights the importance of being aware of lungworm infections in cats, especially in areas where these parasites are becoming more common.
People also search for: kitten respiratory problems · cat lungworm treatment · milbemycin oxime for kittens
Abstract
Parasitic nematodes affecting the respiratory system of felids are spreading in endemic regions and emerging in previously free areas and/or hosts. This is particularly the case of the cat lungworm Aelurostrongylus abstrusus, which can cause respiratory signs in cats all over the world. Additionally, Troglostrongylus brevior has been recently found in domestic cats from Ibiza Island in Spain and Southern Italy. The present paper describes the first mixed infection by these lungworms in kittens belonging to the same litter. Two ∼10-11 weeks old kittens were found infected by A. abstrusus and T. brevior at a copromicroscopical examination. The identity of larvae shed by faeces were confirmed with an already validated PCR specific for A. abstrusus and a novel DNA-based assay specific for T. brevior. One kitten showed severe respiratory signs and died despite an anthelmintic treatment, while the other had a subclinical infection and recovered after a parasiticide administration with milbemycin oxime. New insights into epidemiology, biology, clinical aspects and control of these parasitoses are discussed.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24271082/