Retrospective study on the occurrence of the feline lungworms Aelurostrongylus abstrusus and Troglostrongylus spp. in endemic areas of Italy

Cesare, Angela Di; G, Di Francesco; Regalbono, Antonio Frangipane di; Eleni, Claudia; Liberato, Claudio De; Marruchella, Giuseppe; Iorio, Raffaella; Malatesta, Daniela; Romanucci, Mariarita; Bongiovanni, Laura; Cassini, Rudi; Traversa, Donato

doi:10.1016/j.tvjl.2014.12.010

Cited by 31 publications

(37 citation statements)

References 26 publications

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“…The current scenario suggests a spillover from wildcats to domestic cats and vice versa, causing the presence of T. brevior and A. chabaudi in domestic cats and of A. abstrusus in wildcats. A retrospective study documented that the occurrence of T. brevior in domestic cats was formerly negligible (Di Cesare et al 2015a).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

OCCURRENCE OF LUNGWORMS IN EUROPEAN WILDCATS (FELIS SILVESTRIS SILVESTRIS) OF CENTRAL ITALY

Veronesi

Traversa

Lepri

et al. 2016

Journal of Wildlife Diseases

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The increasing focus on infections in domestic cats (Felis catus) has raised questions about lungworm distribution in wild hosts. To enhance knowledge of the occurrence of lungworms in enzootic regions of central Italy, we examined the carcasses of 16 European wildcats (Felis silvestris silvestris). Adult nematodes, feces, respiratory flushings, and pulmonary tissues were collected at necropsy and then microscopically and genetically analyzed. Fourteen wildcats had single or mixed lungworm species. Aelurostrongylus abstrusus was the most common parasite retrieved, followed by Troglostrongylus brevior. In addition, three specimens of Angiostrongylus chabaudi were found in the pulmonary arteries of one wildcat. Histologically, the most common lesions were a mild-to-severe chronic catarrhal bronchitis and a chronic interstitial pneumonia with smooth muscle hypertrophy, associated with T. brevior and A. abstrusus, respectively. These results demonstrate that the European wildcats may harbor several species of lungworms that may impair their health and welfare. Also, F. s. silvestris is a potential reservoir for respiratory nematodes in domestic cats.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

OCCURRENCE OF LUNGWORMS IN EUROPEAN WILDCATS (FELIS SILVESTRIS SILVESTRIS) OF CENTRAL ITALY

Veronesi

Traversa

Lepri

et al. 2016

Journal of Wildlife Diseases

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“…The report from Ibiza brought troglostrongylosis in domestic cats to the fore and since then, this infection has been increasingly recorded in other European islands, i.e. Sicily, Sardinia and Crete [ 5 , 10 , 11 ], and in areas of continental Italy [ 3 , 4 , 12 – 16 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Occurrence of Aelurostrongylus abstrusus and Troglostrongylus brevior in domestic cats in Greece

Diakou

Cesare²,

Barros

et al. 2015

Parasites Vectors

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BackgroundDespite the evidence that Mediterranean Europe offers suitable conditions for the biology of felid respiratory metastrongyloids, no updated data on the presence of felid lungworms are available for Greece. Although the cat lungworm Aelurostrongylus abstrusus is considered as enzootic in domestic cats (Felis silvestris catus) living in some areas of continental Greece, conversely, Troglostrongylus brevior, has only been reported in the island of Crete. The present study aimed to evaluate the occurrence of Aelurostrongylus abstrusus and Troglostrongylus brevior in domestic cats from four different Greek locations including islands where European wildcats (Felis silvestris silvestris), believed to be the natural reservoir of T. brevior, are considered absent.MethodsFaeces were collected from 125 stray cats in the city of Athens, and in Crete, Mykonos and Skopelos Islands, and examined by copromicroscopic techniques for the presence of lungworm larvae. When present, larvae were morphologically and molecularly identified.ResultsThe occurrence of A. abstrusus and T. brevior was confirmed in 10 (8 %) and 7 (5.6 %) of the samples, respectively. In particular, T. brevior was detected in domestic cats in the city of Athens, and in Mykonos and Skopelos Islands, where wildcats are not present.ConclusionsThis information illustrates that T. brevior may infect domestic cats regardless of the presence of the natural host. Considering the relevant clinical impact of this nematode especially in young animals, it is advisable to include troglostrongylosis in the differential diagnosis of cat respiratory diseases also where this parasite is unexpected.

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“…Aelurostrongylus abstrusus-positive samples from studies i and ii mentioned above were recently reexamined with a PCR specific only for T. brevior (11).…”

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Novel Molecular Assay for Simultaneous Identification of Neglected Lungworms and Heartworms Affecting Cats

et al. 2015

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Feline lungworms and heartworms are stimulating the interest of the scientific community due to their clinical impact and apparent geographical expansion. Diagnosis of the infections caused by these nematodes is indeed challenging. This report describes a novel multiplex PCR able to identify simultaneously three species of lungworms (Aelurostrongylus abstrusus and Troglostrongylus brevior) and heartworms (Angiostrongylus chabaudi) affecting felids. Epidemiological and clinical perspectives are discussed.

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Retrospective study on the occurrence of the feline lungworms Aelurostrongylus abstrusus and Troglostrongylus spp. in endemic areas of Italy

Cited by 31 publications

References 26 publications

OCCURRENCE OF LUNGWORMS IN EUROPEAN WILDCATS (FELIS SILVESTRIS SILVESTRIS) OF CENTRAL ITALY

OCCURRENCE OF LUNGWORMS IN EUROPEAN WILDCATS (FELIS SILVESTRIS SILVESTRIS) OF CENTRAL ITALY

Occurrence of Aelurostrongylus abstrusus and Troglostrongylus brevior in domestic cats in Greece

Novel Molecular Assay for Simultaneous Identification of Neglected Lungworms and Heartworms Affecting Cats

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