Concurrent Aelurostrongylus abstrusus infection and salmonellosis in a kitten.
A 14-week-old kitten had a history of vomiting, diarrhoea and pyrexia, all of which resolved without treatment. Three weeks later the kitten developed a violent non-productive dry cough. Thoracic radiographs revealed pneumothorax and nodular alveolar disease. Aelurostrongylus abstrusus larvae and intracellular Gram-negative bacilli were seen in bronchial wash fluid and pleural exudate, and Salmonella Typhimurium was cultured from both fluids but not from faeces. Therapy included unilateral closed-tube thoracostomy, enrofloxacin and fenbendazole. Historical signs were compatible with gastrointestinal salmonellosis and secondary broncho-pneumonia. Seeding of the lungs with salmonellae may have occurred as a result of migration of A abstrusus from a gastro-intestinal tract residually infected or colonised by S Typhimurium. Alternatively, the development of lungworm infection in the cat may have activated quiescent S Typhimurium pulmonary granulomata from bacteraemia secondary to gastro-intestinal salmonellosis. Two years after diagnosis the cat was reportedly in good health.
D000818:Animals; D000969:Antinematodal Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001980:Bronchi / Q000382:microbiology / Q000469:parasitology; D001996:Bronchopneumonia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy / Q000662:veterinary*; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy; D002415:Cats; D005273:Fenbendazole / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005767:Gastrointestinal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy / Q000662:veterinary*; D008297:Male; D008681:Metastrongyloidea / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D011859:Radiography; D012481:Salmonella Infections, Animal / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D012486:Salmonella typhimurium / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D017206:Strongylida Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy / Q000662:veterinary*