Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Cat with severe breathing trouble from lungworm infection in Lithuania
By Martinavičienė, Greta et al.·Published in Veterinary parasitology, regional studies and reports·2025·Department of Veterinary Pathobiology·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Severe respiratory distress in a stray cat caused by the lungworm Aelurostrongylus abstrusus: A first case report in Lithuania.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A 4-month-old male stray cat was brought to a clinic in Lithuania due to severe coughing and breathing difficulties. The cat was initially treated with antibiotics and diuretics for 40 days, but there was no improvement. After further testing, it was discovered that the cat had a lungworm infection caused by Aelurostrongylus abstrusus. The cat was treated with a medication called moxidectin, but since the cough and lungworm larvae persisted, a second treatment with a different medication was given. Ultimately, the cat's cough disappeared after 11 weeks, and follow-up tests showed no signs of the lungworm.
People also search for: cat coughing treatment · lungworm in cats · cat breathing problems · Aelurostrongylus abstrusus symptoms · moxidectin for cats
Abstract
Aelurostrongylus abstrusus is the most common feline lungworm worldwide. A 4 months old male cat with a history of coughing and dyspnoea was presented to a small animal clinic in Lithuania. Upon clinical examination tachypnoea (64 bpm), cough, stridor, wheezing sound, end-inspiratory crackles, dyspnoea and pulmonary oedema were recorded. Due to suspected bacterial infection and pulmonary oedema, the cat was treated with antibiotics and diuretics for 40 days, without improvement. On week 7 following the first visit, haematology revealed leucocytosis, lymphocytosis, monocytosis and eosinophilia. Thoracic radiographs showed multiple pulmonary alternations. Microscopic examination of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and faeces (Baermann migration test) confirmed an infection with A. abstrusus by detection of first stage larvae. The cat was treated with spot-on moxidectin/imidacloprid (Advocate® for cats, Elanco Animal Health GmbH) according to manufacturer's instructions. The L1 of A. abstrusus were still present in the faeces 3 weeks, and cough persisted 4 weeks following the first treatment with moxidectin; anthelmintic treatment was therefore continued with a fipronil/praziquantel/eprinomectin spot-on solution (Broadline®; Boehringer Ingelheim/Merial) according to manufacturer's instructions. No L1 of A. abstrusus were present in the faeces 7 weeks and cough disappeared 11 weeks following the first treatment with moxidectin.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40121036/