Relation between Aelurostrongylus abstrusus larvae excretion, respiratory and radiographic signs in naturally infected cats

Genchi, Marco; Ferrari, Nicola; Fonti, Paolo; Francesco, Ivana De; Piazza, C.; Viglietti, Antonio

doi:10.1016/j.vetpar.2014.10.030

Cited by 38 publications

(55 citation statements)

References 20 publications

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“…The prepatent period ranges from 4 (Losonsky et al, 1983) to 9 weeks post infection (wpi) (Hamilton and McCaw, 1968) with a peak of larval excretion between 60-120 days post inoculation (dpi) (Ribeiro and Lima Dos Santos, 2001). Affected cats present with respiratory (Grandi et al, 2005;Hamilton, 1967;Traversa et al, 2008a) and / or unspecific signs (Genchi et al, 2014;Schnyder et al, 2014), or can remain asymptomatic (Genchi et al, 2014;Hamilton, 1963). The severity of clinical signs depends on the number of ingested L3 and of the immune status (Hamilton, 1967;Schnyder et al, 2014).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Detection of specific antibodies in cats infected with the lung nematode Aelurostrongylus abstrusus

Zottler

Strübe

Schnyder

2017

Veterinary Parasitology

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Feline aelurostrongylosis, caused by the metastrongylid nematode Aelurostrongylus abstrusus, is an underestimated respiratory parasitosis. Its diagnosis currently mainly relies on the isolation of first stage larvae from fresh faecal samples. The aim of our study was to develop a serological test for the detection of specific antibodies against A. abstrusus by ELISA. We used recombinant major sperm protein (MSP) of the bovine lungworm Dictyocaulus viviparus as detection antigen and evaluated two different ELISA plates (Maxisorp and Immobilizer™ Amino-plate, Nunc Roskilde, Denmark) with two different enzyme systems [alkaline phosphatase (AP) and horseradish peroxidase (HRP)]. Sera from cats experimentally (n=54) and naturally (n=17) infected with A. abstrusus and from randomly selected cats with different medical issues (n=160) were used to determine sensitivity and specificity. Furthermore, cross-reactions were evaluated using sera from cats naturally (n=71) and experimentally (n=8) infected with different nematodes. A sensitivity of 100% was obtained with sera from experimentally infected cats at 10 weeks post infection using MSP on the Immobilizer™ Amino-plate with HRP, while it ranged between 90.5 and 95.2% in the other ELISA set-ups. Using sera from naturally infected cats, a sensitivity of 88.2% (95% confidence interval: 63.6-98.5%) was achieved in all four set-ups. The specificity was 85.2-94.4% in sera from uninfected cats prior to experimental infection and 68.1-90% in randomly selected cats depending on the plate and enzyme system. The number of seropositive cats increased over time post infection. Serological follow-up showed a decrease of antibody levels within 30days after anthelmintic treatment. Seropositive reactions were observed with sera from stray cats naturally infected with Toxocara cati, Capillaria sp., hookworms and Taeniidae; however, coproscopic false negative A. abstrusus findings cannot be excluded. The serological detection of specific antibodies against A. abstrusus using ELISA requires a single serum sample and therefore represents a valid alternative for reliable individual diagnosis of A. abstrusus in cats and facilitates mass screening, overcoming the usually difficult collection of cat faeces.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Detection of specific antibodies in cats infected with the lung nematode Aelurostrongylus abstrusus

Zottler

Strübe

Schnyder

2017

Veterinary Parasitology

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“…The nematode may be harbored by cats regardless of their habitat, lifestyle, breed and sex but privately owned animals, cats living indoor or with few chances to access outdoor, are less prone to be infected by A. abstrusus . In contrast, animals living outdoors, with a remote lifestyle and allowed to hunt, have enhanced opportunities to ingest molluscs and/or prey [ 3 , 35 , 36 ]. Surveys carried out in Brazil [ 37 ] and Italy [ 4 ] have indicated that free-ranging animals and young cats may be significantly more often infected with A. abstrusus .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…A very recent large-scale survey, carried out in northern and central Italy and involving more than 800 cats, has confirmed that both young and adult animals were infected by A. abstrusus and that cats younger than 1 year were more at a risk of infection with T. brevior rather than with A. abstrusus [ 40 ]. Another study from Sardinia, Italy, reported that age and sex do not seem to be risk factors for A. abstrusus infection [ 35 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Updates on feline aelurostrongylosis and research priorities for the next decade

et al. 2016

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Feline aelurostrongylosis, caused by the metastrongyloid nematode Aelurostrongylus abstrusus, is an important gastropod-borne parasitic lung disease in cats. Infection with A. abstrusus is widespread globally, but the increasing awareness of this parasite and the advent of more sensitive diagnostics have contributed to the apparent increase in its prevalence and geographic expansion. Clinical features may range in severity from subclinical to life-threatening respiratory disease. Parasitological standard techniques, such as visualization of the nematode first larval stage in faecal and respiratory (bronchial mucus or pleural fluid) samples, remain the mainstays of diagnosis. However, diagnosis is evolving with recent advances in serological and molecular testing, which can improve the time to initiation of effective anthelmintic therapy. Despite numerous anthelmintics that are now available as treatment options, the role of host immunity and lifestyle factors in selecting cats that may benefit from more targeted anthelmintic prophylaxis or treatment practice remains unclear and is likely to guide therapeutic choices as newer data become available. This review summarizes the biology, epidemiology, pathophysiology, diagnosis and treatment options currently available for feline aelurostrongylosis.

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“…Infected cats mostly show respiratory signs (Grandi et al 2005;Traversa et al 2008), but nonpathognomic signs (Genchi et al 2014;Schnyder et al 2014) or asymptomatic cats are also commonly observed (Genchi et al 2014). In some cases, an infection with A. abstrusus may result in death (Gerdin et al 2011;Dirven et al 2012;Philbey et al 2014).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Larval development of the cat lungworm Aelurostrongylus abstrusus in the tropical freshwater snail Biomphalaria glabrata

Zottler

Schnyder

2016

Parasitology Open

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Relation between Aelurostrongylus abstrusus larvae excretion, respiratory and radiographic signs in naturally infected cats

Cited by 38 publications

References 20 publications

Detection of specific antibodies in cats infected with the lung nematode Aelurostrongylus abstrusus

Detection of specific antibodies in cats infected with the lung nematode Aelurostrongylus abstrusus

Updates on feline aelurostrongylosis and research priorities for the next decade

Larval development of the cat lungworm Aelurostrongylus abstrusus in the tropical freshwater snail Biomphalaria glabrata

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