Aelurostrongylus abstrusus

Also known as: Cat lungworm

Causes: Aelurostrongylosis

Aelurostrongylus abstrusus
Class	Nematoda
Super-family	Metastrongyloidea
Family	Angiostrongylidae
Species	Aelurostrongylus abstrusus

Introduction

Aelurostrongylosis is the disease caused by the cat lungworm Aelurostrongylus abstrusus, which is found in many parts of Europe, the USA and Australia.

Aeurostrongylus abstrusus - Courtesy of the Laboratory of Parasitology, University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine

Hosts

Intermediate hosts: Molluscs, including snails and slugs, as well as paratenic hosts, including rodents, birds, amphibians, and reptiles.

Definitive host: Cat.

Identification

A. abstrusus are small parasites of the family Angiostrongylidae, measuring around 1cm in length. The worms are long and thing, and the male has a bursa, but it is small and poorly developed.

Life Cycle

This is an indirect lifecyle, involving two intermediate hosts, and a definitive host. The female is ovo-viviparous, and passes L1 within the host faeces. The L1 then infect the molluscs, and later develop into L2, then infective L3. The paratenic host ingests the molluscs. The cat, acting as the definitive host then ingests the L3, and becomes infected with the parasite.

The larvae then travel to the lungs via the lymphatic system or the bloodstream. These can be seen as nodules on the lungs. They then hatch out, and are coughed up and swallowed. The parasite enters the alimentary tract, and is passed out in the faeces.

The parasite affects pulmonary parenchyma and causes aelurostrongylosis.

Clinical Signs

The disease is often asymptomatic, and serious respiratory problems usually occur due to a deficient immunity, following FIV infection for example.

Respiratory signs are usually progressive and worstening. Heavy infections can cause severe bronchopneumonia, with cats presenting with open-mouth breathing and abdominal effort.

There might also be coughing and sneezing and systemic signs such as anorexia, lethargy and wasting.

Diagnosis

Radiography may reveal a diffuse interstitial pattern with focal peribronchial densities. An alveolar pattern may appear in severe cases.

Bronchial lavage may reveal characteristic coiled larvae with an undulating tail and spine and eosinophilic inflammation.

Haematology may reveal eosinophilia.

Post mortem examination may reveal greenish nodules in the lungs.

Microscopically, eggs and larvae in the alveolar spaces cause a foreign body type reaction (surrounded by mononuclear cells and giant cells). There is submucosal gland hypertrophy and smooth muscle hypertrophy in airway and vessel walls.

Treatment and Prevention

Treatment is difficult and not often necessary unless the cat is showing clinical signs, as the disease is usually self-limiting.

Fenbendazole for 21 consecutive days is usually effective.

Imidacloprid with moxidectin, emodepsid, and selamectin are also effective according to Sandra Sawchuk's capsule report "Best Practices for Lungworm Prevention & Treatment" in Clinician's Brief (volume 12 number 1, January 2014, p 54), which reviews a selamectin lungworm efficacy study. ( PubMed link )

Ivermectin has also been used in some cases.

Control is only by prevention of hunting by cats.

Aelurostrongylus abstrusus Learning Resources
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References

Merck and Co (2008) Merck veterinary Manual Merial

Bowman, D. (2002) Feline Clinical Parasitology Wiley-Blackwell

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