Angiostrongylus chabaudi in felids: New findings and a review of the literature.
Cardiopulmonary infections by Angiostrongylus chabaudi affect domestic and wild felids but, due to limited information on the biology of this nematode, its pathogenicity remains unclear. This article describes the histopathological alterations associated with Angiostrongylus infection in a wildcat from Bulgaria, and reviews current literature on this feline angiostrongylid. Nematodes were isolated from lung lavage and faecal samples of a road killed wildcat in Southern Bulgaria. The morphological identification of parasite larvae as A. chabaudi was confirmed by molecular analysis of part of the 18S ribosomal RNA gene. Upon histopathological examination, severe granulomatous pneumonia, ranging from multifocal to coalescing, and pulmonary vascular lesions were observed. Extensive alveolar collapse, alveolar emphysematous changes, parenchymal haemorrhages and small artery wall hyperplasia were observed in the parenchyma adjacent to the granulomas. Histopathological examination revealed the presence of cross-sections of adult female parasites within the lumen of the pulmonary artery branches, the intima altered markedly by subendothelial proliferation and oedematous changes. This study compliments current knowledge of the pathogenesis of feline angiostrongylosis by A. chabaudi in wildcats, as well as of the distribution of this little-known parasite.
Department of Veterinary Medicine, Università degli Studi di Bari, Valenzano, Bari, Italy.
Alessio
A
Giannelli
Department of Parasitology, Trakia University, Stara Zagora, Bulgaria.
Zvezedlina
Z
Kirkova
Department of Veterinary Science, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.
Francesca
F
Abramo
Department of Veterinary Medicine, Università degli Studi di Bari, Valenzano, Bari, Italy.
Maria Stefania
MS
Latrofa
Department of Veterinary Medicine, Università degli Studi di Bari, Valenzano, Bari, Italy.
Bronwyn
B
Campbell
Department of Veterinary Medicine, Università degli Studi di Bari, Valenzano, Bari, Italy.
Nicola
N
Zizzo
Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
Cinzia
C
Cantacessi
Department of Veterinary Medicine, Università degli Studi di Bari, Valenzano, Bari, Italy; Aggeu Magalhães Research Centre, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz), Recife, Brazil.
Filipe
F
Dantas-Torres
Department of Veterinary Medicine, Università degli Studi di Bari, Valenzano, Bari, Italy. Electronic address: domenico.otranto@uniba.it.
Domenico
D
Otranto
D000801:Angiostrongylus / Q000166:cytology / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D000818:Animals; D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / Q000469:parasitology; D002031:Bulgaria; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology; D045989:Felidae / Q000469:parasitology*; D005260:Female; D008168:Lung / Q000469:parasitology / Q000473:pathology; D011651:Pulmonary Artery / Q000469:parasitology / Q000473:pathology; D017206:Strongylida Infections / Q000469:parasitology / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*
Angiostrongylus chabaudi; Feline angiostrongylosis; Histological alterations; Pathogenicity; Wildcat