Difference between revisions of "Aelurostrongylus abstrusus"

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Revision as of 08:52, 20 July 2010

Aelurostrongylus abstrusus

Aeurostrongylus abstrusus - Courtesy of the Laboratory of Parasitology, University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine
  • The cat lungworm - a typical metastrongyloid.
  • Adults are small (approximately 1cm), and live in the lung parenchyma and small bronchioles.
  • Life-Cycle:

→ L1 with kinky tail in faeces

→ mollusc intermediate host

→ cat infected either by eating an infected mollusc, or by eating a paratenic host that has eaten an infected mollusc

  • Infections often asymptomatic, but can cause serious respiratory problems, especially in immunocompromised cats.

Aelurostrongylosis

  • Often asymptomatic; serious respiratory problems usually due to deficient immunity.
  • Prognosis poor.
  • Post mortem examination reveals greenish nodules in lungs.
  • Histopathology diferentiates these from tuberculosis.


Fenbendazole is licensed for treatment.

  • Live in lung parenchyma and small bronchioles
  • Grossly:
    • Firm yellow nodules scattered throughout parenchyma, more frequently at periphery
  • Microscopically:
    • Eggs and larvae in the alveolar spaces cause a foreign body type reaction (surrounded by mononuclear cells and giant cells)
    • Submucosal gland hypertrophy and smooth muscle hypertrophy in airway and vessel walls
  • Associated clinical signs are mild although heavy infestations may -> chronic coughing
  • The airway eosinophilia which may be detected can be confused with a diagnosis of asthma