title: First evidence of the European wildcat (Felis silvestris silvestris) as definitive host of Angiostrongylus chabaudi.
abstract: Angiostrongylus chabaudi (Strongylida, Angiostrongylidae) is a parasitic nematode described for the first time last century from the pulmonary arteries of six European wildcats (Felis silvestris silvestris) in central Italy. Since then, this parasite remained practically unknown until recently, when immature A. chabaudi have been reported from one wildcat in Germany and two domestic cats (Felis silvestris catus) in Italy. The present report describes the first record of A. chabaudi in Greece and, most importantly, the first known case of patent infection by A. chabaudi. The necropsy of a road-killed F. s. silvestris found near the lake Kerkini, in the municipality of Serres (Macedonia, Greece), revealed the presence of nematodes of both sexes in the right ventricle and the pulmonary artery of the heart. All parasites were mature adults and numerous eggs were present in the uteruses of females. The morphological characteristics of the parasites were consistent with those of A. chabaudi. Moreover, Angiostrongylus-like first stage larvae (L1) were present in the faeces of the animal that was negative for any other cardio-pulmonary parasite. Genetic examination of adult parasites and L1 confirmed the morphological identification as A. chabaudi. Histopathological examination of the lungs showed severe, multifocal to coalescing, chronic, interstitial granulomatous pneumonia due to the presence of adult parasites, larvae and eggs. These findings demonstrate for the first unequivocal time that this nematode reproduces in the European wildcat which should be ultimately considered a definitive host of A. chabaudi. Finally, the L1 of A. chabaudi are described here for the first time, opening new prospects for further studies on this neglected parasite.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, School of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124, Thessaloniki, Greece. diakou@vet.auth.gr.
authors.forename: Anastasia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Diakou
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Pathology, School of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124, Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors.forename: Dimitra
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Psalla
authors.affiliation: Department of Zoology, School of Biology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124, Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors.forename: Despina
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Migli
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Teaching Veterinary Hospital, Località Piano d'Accio snc, 64100, Teramo, Italy.
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Di Cesare
authors.affiliation: Department of Zoology, School of Biology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124, Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors.forename: Dionisios
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Youlatos
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Medicine, Production and Health, University of Padova, 35122, Padova, Italy.
authors.forename: Federica
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Marcer
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Teaching Veterinary Hospital, Località Piano d'Accio snc, 64100, Teramo, Italy.
authors.forename: Donato
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Traversa
mesh_terms: D000801:Angiostrongylus / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D000818:Animals; D000835:Animals, Wild / Q000469:parasitology*; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology; D045991:Felis / Q000469:parasitology*; D005260:Female; D006115:Greece; D006352:Heart Ventricles / Q000469:parasitology; D008168:Lung / Q000469:parasitology / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D011651:Pulmonary Artery / Q000469:parasitology; D017206:Strongylida Infections / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*
keywords: Angiostrongylosis; Angiostrongylus chabaudi; Feline; Felis silvestris silvestris; Histology; Morphology; Wildcat