First case report of nematode parasitic myelopathy in a wild feline in Brazil

Dazzi, C; Santos, Alex dos; Machado, Tanise Policarpo; Ataíde, Michelli Westphal de; Rodriguez, Rubens; Pereira, Ananda Müller; García, Paulina Sepúlveda; Motta, Adriana Costa da

doi:10.1590/s1984-29612019099

Cited by 9 publications

(22 citation statements)

References 11 publications

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“…To date, all reports of feline gurltiosis have shown that domestic cats are predominantly affected. However, recent reports from Brazil have described the isolation of G. paralysans from the lumbar spinal cord segments of adult wild cats, including the northern tiger cat (Leopardus triginus) and a female margay (L. wieddi) (Oliveira 2015, Dazzi et al 2020. Although the huiña or kodkod (L. guigna) and Geoffroy's cat (L. geoffroyi) have been suggested as possible definitive hosts, neither larval stages nor clinical cases have been diagnosed yet in these wild felids (Muñoz et al 2017).…”

Section: Morphological Characteristicsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In 2013, four cats with G. paralysans infections were reported in the state of Rio Grande do Sul (Togni et al 2013), and eleven cases were recently found in the state of Pernambuco (municipalities of Caetés and Capoeiras), northeast Brazil (Melo Neto et al 2019). Also in Brazil, two wild cats (L. wieddii and L. triginus) were found in the state of Parana (Chapecó) with classical post-mortem spinal cord lesions of feline gurltiosis (Oliveira 2015, Dazzi et al 2020. More recently, the first case outside of America was reported in Tenerife (Canary Islands, Spain) (Udiz-Rodriguez et al 2018).…”

Section: Epidemiologymentioning

confidence: 99%

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Gurltia paralysans: a neglected parasite of domestic cats

Gómez

Moroni

Muñoz

et al. 2021

Austral j. vet. sci.

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Gurltia paralysans (order Strongylida; family Angiostrongylidae) is a metastrongyloid parasite that causes chronic meningomyelitis in domestic cats in South America. The geographic distribution of G. paralysans includes rural and peri-urban areas of Chile and Argentina. However, feline gurltiosis has recently been reported in other South American countries, including Uruguay, Colombia, and Brazil, and was also recently reported in Tenerife, Canary Islands (Spain). Feline gurltiosis is increasingly detected in domestic cats in southern Chile and its apparent geographic range is also increasing, together with an awareness of the disease among veterinarians. The life cycle of the parasite is unknown, but is probably indirect, involving gastropods as the intermediate host, as in other metastrongyloid nematode species. The clinical signs of G. paralysans infection include progressive pelvic limb ataxia, paraparesis, paraplegia, faecal or urinary incontinence, and/or tail paralysis. A definitive diagnosis of feline gurltiosis is still challenging and only possible with necropsy, when adult G. paralysans nematodes are detected within the spinal cord vasculature, together with macroscopic lesions, and characteristic morphological features. A semi-nested PCR method was recently developed for the in vivo diagnosis of this neglected parasite. Current treatment options include macrocyclic lactones and mylbemicn oxime, but the prognosis is poor in severe cases. In this article, we review G. paralysans infection in cats, focusing on the diagnosis shortcomings and the future directions of research into its biology and the associated neurological disease. Comprehensive updates on the epidemiology and clinical features, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of feline gurltiosis are provided.

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Section: Morphological Characteristicsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Epidemiologymentioning

confidence: 99%

Gurltia paralysans: a neglected parasite of domestic cats

Gómez

Moroni

Muñoz

et al. 2021

Austral j. vet. sci.

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“…Gurltia paralysans (Nematoda: Order Strongylida; Family Angiostrongylidae) is a metastrongyloid parasite which causes chronic meningomyelitis in domestic cats (Felis catus) and some wild felids from the genus Leopardus such as the kodkod or guigna (Leopardus guigna) and margay (Leopardus triginus) [1][2][3]. Its geographic distribution includes areas of Chile, Argentina, Uruguay, Colombia, and Brazil and recently Tenerife Island, Spain [2,[4][5][6][7][8].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Intra Vitam Diagnosis of Neglected Gurltia paralysans Infections in Domestic Cats (Felis catus) by a Commercial Serology Test for Canine Angiostrongylosis and Insights into Clinical and Histopathological Findings—Four-Case Report

et al. 2020

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Gurltia paralysans is a metastrongyloid nematode which belongs to the Angiostrongylidae family and presents tropism for veins of the subarachnoid space in vivo of domestic and wild felids causing a progressive and chronic clinical manifestation of paraparesis/paraplegia. The geographic distribution of G. paralysans includes rural and periurban areas of South America and was recently reported in Europe. To date, a definitive diagnosis of feline gurltiosis is still conducted by post-mortem examination of the spinal cord in affected animals. A presumptive diagnosis of feline gurltiosis can also be achieved based on data of compatible clinical signs and associated epidemiological risk factors. The aim of this preliminary study was to evaluate the commercial serological test Angio Detect TM® (IDEXX Laboratories) as a possible diagnostic method of feline gurltiosis in vivo. For the study, 10 domestic felines (Felis catus) which originated from a high endemic area of Southern Chile, were analyzed. All felines presented chronic paraparesis or severe paraplegia. Subsequently, commercial Angio Detect TM® serological tests for the detection of closely related Angiostrongylus vasorum in canids were performed according to manufacturer's instructions. Conducted serological tests were positive in seven of ten felines showing paraplegia/paraparesis and presumably infected with G. paralysans, and four of them were additionally necropsied, and presented macroscopic findings compatible with feline gurltiosis. Furthermore, the presence of adult female and male G. paralysans specimens at the level of the subarachnoid vasculature in affected spinal cord segments were observed during necropsy. Histopathology demonstrated severe eosinophilic meningomyelitis, coagulopathies with thrombosis in G. paralysans-parasitized leptomeningeal veins. Results of this preliminary study suggest a cross-reaction between A. vasorum-specific antigens, which also parasitize blood vessels in vivo, and G. paralysans when using an Angio Detect TM® test, which suggests its helpful use as a new diagnostic method for feline gurltiosis in live domestic felines. Additional specific antigen research will be required in order to better understand the sensitivity and specificity of A. vasorum antigens used in this test and for existing cross-reactivity with G. paralysans-derived antigens for future a suitable intra vitam immunodiagnosis of neglected feline gurltiosis.

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“…Initially, the clinical picture showed by the kitten of the present study led to the suspicion of infection by G. paralysans , as this poorly known angiostrongylid infects the vessels of the subarachnoid space of the spinal cord and parenchyma of felids in South America (including Brazil), and causes life-threatening neurological disorders [ 23 , 24 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Hemorrhagic Meningoencephalomyelitis Due to Ectopic Localization of Aelurostrongylus abstrusus in a Cat: First Case Report

Tinoco

Morelli

Brito

et al. 2022

Animals

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The lungworm Aelurostrongylus abstrusus is one of the main causes of respiratory diseases in cats worldwide. This report describes the unusual case of a kitten infected with A. abstrusus and presented to a veterinary clinic in Brazil with lethargy, dysphagia, non-ambulatory tetraplegia, and pelvic limbs bilateral myoclonus. The clinical picture of the kitten worsened with generalized flaccid tetraplegia and death a few days after hospitalization. At necropsy, hemorrhagic necrosis and subarachnoid hemorrhages were detected in several areas of the central nervous system. Nematode stages were found at post-mortem histological examinations in lungs, cerebellum, subarachnoid space of the brain and spinal cord. Microscopic and molecular (PCRs-coupled-sequencing protocols) examination showed the presence of A. abstrusus in histological samples. This study describes the first neurological aelurostrongylosis due to ectopic localization of adult worms in the central nervous system of a cat, causing acute hemorrhagic multifocal meningoencephalomyelitis. Further studies are necessary to elucidate whether unusual localizations and the migration of A. abstrusus are more frequent than expected.

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First case report of nematode parasitic myelopathy in a wild feline in Brazil

Cited by 9 publications

References 11 publications

Gurltia paralysans: a neglected parasite of domestic cats

Gurltia paralysans: a neglected parasite of domestic cats

Intra Vitam Diagnosis of Neglected Gurltia paralysans Infections in Domestic Cats (Felis catus) by a Commercial Serology Test for Canine Angiostrongylosis and Insights into Clinical and Histopathological Findings—Four-Case Report

Hemorrhagic Meningoencephalomyelitis Due to Ectopic Localization of Aelurostrongylus abstrusus in a Cat: First Case Report

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