First report of Cylicospirura felineus in a feral domestic shorthair cat in North America

Abstract

Case summaryA feral domestic shorthair cat was euthanized owing to acute onset and progression of neurological signs attributed to ethylene glycol toxicity. At post-mortem examination two nodules were identified within the fundus of the stomach. Examination of the gastric nodules revealed an intact mucosal surface, each with multiple red slender nematodes extending through an individual central pore. Histopathological evaluation of the nodules highlighted unique reactive fibroplasia, mimicking feline gastrointestinal eosinophilic sclerosing fibroplasia (FGESF), encasing numerous nematodes with females possessing gravid uteri containing abundant larvated eggs. The latter findings were highly suggestive of the Cylicospirura genus, further supported by an en face evaluation of the buccal cavity, highlighting a distinctive trifid tooth appearance. Together, these findings are consistent with Cylicospirura felineus. PCR for the COX-1 gene was unsuccessful on formalin-fixed specimens, attributed to nucleic acid and protein crosslinking.Relevance and novel informationThis represents the first documented case of Cylicospirura species in a feral domestic shorthair cat in North America. This particular cat lived in the highly urban environment of New Orleans, Louisiana. Identification of this case demonstrates the potential for feral cats to serve as reservoir hosts and ultimately support transmission of Cylicospirura species into domesticated cat populations. Gastric cylicospiruriasis may present clinically as a firm abdominal mass, potentially with a history of chronic vomiting. The latter emphasizes the importance of differentiating this condition from a neoplastic process such as alimentary lymphoma and adenocarcinoma. Histologically, the unique thick anastomosing collagenous cords encasing nematodes represent a stereotypical response observed in a broad array of gastrointestinal inflammation in felines, including intralesional bacteria, fungal hyphae, foreign bodies and, in this case, gastric nematodes that closely resemble FGESF. Additionally, these unique histological lesions have previously been misinterpreted as neoplastic conditions, including sclerosing mast cell tumor and extraosseous osteosarcoma.

Nodular and sclerosing gastritis caused by Cylicospirura felineus in a puma (Puma concolor)

“…Thus, pumas most likely become infected by ingesting invertebrates (intermediate hosts), or prey vertebrates, that have invertebrates in their dietary composition, and may act as paratenic hosts. Gastric cylicospiruriasis often represents an incidental finding in cats (Ibba et al, 2014;Crossland et al, 2015). In the present report, despite the lack of clinical data of the animal, post mortem examination showed a poor body condition and anemia.…”

“…It was later renamed Cylicospirura felineus when reported in Felis bengalensis (synonym Prionailurus bengalensis) (Sandground, 1932). The genus Cylicospirura has been documented in domestic and wild felids in India (Chandler, 1925), Italy (Ibba et al, 2014), southern Africa (Junker et al, 2013), North America (Crossland et al, 2015;Ferguson et al, 2011;Pence et al, 1978), and South America, including Brazil (Gallas et al, 2014;Vieira et al, 2017).…”

“…Adult nematodes are usually found in the gastric mucosa, attached to the fibrous tissue of nodules, which have a small orifice that communicates with the stomach lumen (Pence et al, 1978;Bowman et al, 2002) where it may compromise digestion and cause chronic vomiting due to gastric obstruction (Ferguson et al, 2011). Usually, infections by species of the genus Cylicospirura do not cause clinical signs (Ibba et al, 2014;Crossland et al, 2015), making clinical diagnosis difficult.…”

“…However, arthropods, such as beetles, are believed to act as intermediate hosts, and vertebrates as pacas (Agouti paca) and armadillos (Dasypus novemcinctus), serve as paratenic hosts. The definitive host becomes infected by ingesting infected intermediate or paratenic hosts (Bowman et al, 2002;Ferguson et al, 2011;Crossland et al, 2015).…”

Endoparasites of European Wildcats (Felis silvestris) in Greece

“…and Physaloptera spp., have an indirect life cycle with various insects, e.g., beetles and crickets, as intermediate hosts and small vertebrates as paratenic hosts. Cylicospirura spp., a nematode frequently found in this study and in other wild felids [ 76 ], is only rarely described in domestic cats [ 77 ]. In the European wildcat, Cylicospirura spp.…”