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=== ''Aelurostrongylus abstrusus'' ===
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{{unfinished}}
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[[Image:Aeurostrongylus abstrusus.jpg|thumb|right|150px|Aeurostrongylus abstrusus - Courtesy of the Laboratory of Parasitology, University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine]]
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{| cellpadding="10" cellspacing="0" border="1"
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| Also known as:
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| '''Cat lungworm
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|-
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|}
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*The cat lungworm - a typical metastrongyloid.
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==Hosts==
*Adults are small (approximately 1cm), and live in the lung parenchyma and small bronchioles.
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'''Intermediate hosts''': Molluscs, including snails and slugs, as well as paratenic hosts, including rodents, birds, amphibians, and reptiles.
*Life-Cycle:
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→ L1 with kinky tail in faeces
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'''Definitive host''': Cat.
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→ mollusc intermediate host
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==Identification==
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''A. abstrusus'' are small parasites, measuring around 1cm in length.  The worms are long and thing, and the male has a bursa, but it is small and poorly developed.
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→ cat infected '''either''' by eating an infected mollusc, '''or''' by eating a paratenic host that has eaten an infected mollusc
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==Life Cycle==
*Infections often asymptomatic, but can cause serious respiratory problems, especially in immunocompromised cats.
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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 develop into L3.  The paratenic host ingests the molluscs.  The cat, acting as the definitive host then ingests the L3, and becomes infected with the parasite.
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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 ar coughed up and swallowed.  The parasite enters the alimentary tract, and is passed out in the faeces.
    
=== Aelurostrongylosis ===
 
=== Aelurostrongylosis ===
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*Histopathology diferentiates these from tuberculosis.
 
*Histopathology diferentiates these from tuberculosis.
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*Infections often asymptomatic, but can cause serious respiratory problems, especially in immunocompromised cats.[[File:Example.jpg]]
    
Fenbendazole is licensed for treatment.
 
Fenbendazole is licensed for treatment.
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