Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Cat with back leg weakness from angio-neurotropic parasite infection
By Gómez, Marcelo et al.·Published in Frontiers in veterinary science·2024·Instituto de Farmacologí·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Paraparesis due to angio-neurotropicin a domestic cat () and retrospective study on feline gurltiosis cases in South America.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A domestic cat in South America was brought in for difficulty walking due to a condition called paraparesis, which means partial paralysis in the back legs. The cat was found to have a parasitic infection causing severe inflammation in the spinal cord and veins. This infection is linked to a neglected parasite that affects cats living in rural areas, often due to their hunting behaviors and exposure to wildlife. Treatment details weren't specified, but raising awareness about this parasite is crucial for better prevention and care in affected regions.
People also search for: cat difficulty walking · cat paralysis treatment · cat spinal cord infection · cat hunting behavior risks · feline meningomyelitis symptoms
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: The nematodeis a neglected angio-neurotropic parasite causing chronic meningomyelitis in domestic cats () as well as wild felids of the genusin South America. Adultnematodes parasitize the leptomeningeal veins of the subarachnoid space and/or meningeal veins of the spinal cord parenchyma. The geographic range ofencompasses rural and peri-urban regions of Chile, Argentina, Uruguay, Colombia and Brazil. METHODS: This case report presents clinical and pathological findings of a-infected cat suffering from severe thrombophlebitis and meningomyelitis resulting in ambulatory paraparesis. Neurological examination of affected cat localized the lesions at the thoracolumbar (T3-L3) and lumbosacral (L4-Cd4) segments. Molecular and morphological characteristics of extracted nematodes from parasitized spinal cord veins confirmed. Additionally, data obtained from a questionnaire answered by cat owners of 12 past feline gurltiosis cases (2014-2015) were here analyzed. Questionnaire collected data on age, gender, geographic location, type of food, hunting behavior, type of prey, and other epidemiological features of-infected cats. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: Data revealed that the majority of cats originated from rural settlements thereby showing outdoor life styles with hunting/predatory behaviors, being in close contact to wild life [i.e. gastropods, amphibians, reptiles, rodents, birds, and wild felids ()] and with minimal veterinary assistance. Overall, this neglected angio-neurotropicnematode still represents an important etiology of severe thrombophlebitis and meningomyelitis of domestic cats living in endemic rural areas with high biodiversity of definitive hosts (DH), intermediary (IH), and paratenic hosts (PH). The intention of this study is to generate awareness among veterinary surgeons as well as biologists on this neglected feline neuroparasitosis not only affecting domestic cats but also endangered wild felid species of the genuswithin the South American continent.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38313063/