Aelurostrongylus abstrusus
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Aelurostrongylus abstrusus
- 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.