Prevalence study of the lungworm Aelurostrongylus abstrusus in stray cats of Portugal.
In this study we have investigated the prevalence of aelurostrongylosis, one of the most common feline pulmonary parasitic diseases, in cats from the north-west region of Portugal. For this purpose, 97 faecal samples were collected from cats at risk of being infected by Aelurostrongylus abstrusus in an animal shelter and in a municipal facility. Using the Baermann-Wetzel coprological technique, faecal shedding of first stage larvae (L1) was detected in 17.4% of the cats. Based on this result, it can be concluded that this lungworm infection seems to be common among feral cats in the north-west region of Portugal, in spite of the fact that clinical aelurostrongylosis is not frequently diagnosed by feline practitioners in the area. This parasitic disease should be included in the differential diagnosis of cats presenting with coughing or dyspnoea, and it also should be extended to asymptomatic animals with pulmonary nodules detected by image diagnosis.
Payo-Puente
Pablo
P
Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas de Abel Salazar, Departamento de Clínicas Veterinárias, Núcleo de Medicina e Clínica de Animais de Companhia, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal. ppayo@icbas.up.pt
Botelho-Dinis
M
M
Carvaja Urueña
Ana Maria
AM
Payo-Puente
Miren
M
Gonzalo-Orden
José M
JM
Rojo-Vazquez
Francisco A
FA
D000801:Angiostrongylus / Q000145:classification / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D000818:Animals; D000829:Animals, Domestic; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology*; D002415:Cats / Q000469:parasitology; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology*; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D010270:Parasite Egg Count / Q000662:veterinary; D011174:Portugal / Q000453:epidemiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D013045:Species Specificity; D017206:Strongylida Infections / Q000145:classification / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*