| cardio-pulmonary parasitic nematodes affecting cats in europe: unraveling the past, depicting the present, and predicting the future. | various cardio-pulmonary parasitic nematodes infecting cats have recently been fascinating and stimulating the attention of the academia, pharmaceutical companies, and veterinary practitioners. this is the case of the metastrongyloids: aelurostrongylus abstrusus and troglostrongylus brevior, the trichuroid: capillaria aerophila (syn. eucoleus aerophilus), and the filarioid: dirofilaria immitis. apparently, these parasites have been emerging in several european countries, thus, gaining an importa ... | 2014 | 26664917 |
| simultaneous detection of the feline lungworms troglostrongylus brevior and aelurostrongylus abstrusus by a newly developed duplex-pcr. | in addition to aelurostrongylus abstrusus (strongylida: angiostrongylidae), referred to as the feline lungworm, troglostrongylus brevior (strongylida: crenosomatidae) has recently been identified as an agent of bronco-pulmonary infestations in cats. these two parasites have a similar biology, share ecological niches, potentially co-infesting cats, but are difficult to be differentiated due to the morphological similarities of their first-stage larvae (l1). this paper describes a molecular tool, ... | 2014 | 24238839 |
| mixed infection by aelurostrongylus abstrusus and troglostrongylus brevior in kittens from the same litter in italy. | parasitic nematodes affecting the respiratory system of felids are spreading in endemic regions and emerging in previously free areas and/or hosts. this is particularly the case of the cat lungworm aelurostrongylus abstrusus, which can cause respiratory signs in cats all over the world. additionally, troglostrongylus brevior has been recently found in domestic cats from ibiza island in spain and southern italy. the present paper describes the first mixed infection by these lungworms in kittens b ... | 2014 | 24271082 |
| development of the feline lungworms aelurostrongylus abstrusus and troglostrongylus brevior in helix aspersa snails. | aelurostrongylus abstrusus (strongylida, angiostrongylidae) and troglostrongylus brevior (strongylida, crenosomatidae) are regarded as important lungworm species of domestic felids, with the latter considered an emerging threat in the mediterranean region. the present study aimed to assess their concurrent development in the mollusc helix aspersa (pulmonata, helicidae). thirty snails were infested with 100 first-stage larvae (l1) of a. abstrusus and t. brevior, isolated from a naturally infested ... | 2014 | 24477103 |
| efficacy of broadline® spot-on against aelurostrongylus abstrusus and troglostrongylus brevior lungworms in naturally infected cats from italy. | the increasing reports of aelurostrongylus abstrusus infection and the new information on troglostrongylus brevior have spurred the interest of the scientific community towards the research of pharmaceutical compounds effective against both pathogens. a novel topical combination of fipronil, (s)-methoprene, eprinomectin and praziquantel (broadline®, merial) has been released for the treatment of a variety of feline parasitic infections. the present study reports the efficacy of this spot-on in t ... | 2015 | 25819917 |
| release of lungworm larvae from snails in the environment: potential for alternative transmission pathways. | gastropod-borne parasites may cause debilitating clinical conditions in animals and humans following the consumption of infected intermediate or paratenic hosts. however, the ingestion of fresh vegetables contaminated by snail mucus and/or water has also been proposed as a source of the infection for some zoonotic metastrongyloids (e.g., angiostrongylus cantonensis). in the meantime, the feline lungworms aelurostrongylus abstrusus and troglostrongylus brevior are increasingly spreading among cat ... | 2015 | 25884402 |
| the role of wild canids and felids in spreading parasites to dogs and cats in europe. part ii: helminths and arthropods. | over the last few decades, ecological factors, combined with everchanging landscapes mainly linked to human activities (e.g. encroachment and tourism) have contributed to modifications in the transmission of parasitic diseases from domestic to wildlife carnivores and vice versa. in the first of this two-part review article, we have provided an account of diseases caused by protozoan parasites characterised by a two-way transmission route between domestic and wild carnivore species. in this secon ... | 2015 | 26049678 |
| feline lungworms unlock a novel mode of parasite transmission. | snail-borne lungworms exert an enormous toll on the health and welfare of animals and humans. of these parasites, aelurostrongylus abstrusus and troglostrongylus brevior affect the respiratory tract of felids. these lungworms share both the ecological niche and the species of snail (helix aspersa) acting as intermediate host. recently, the ability of h. aspersa to shed infective third-stage larvae (l3s) of a. abstrusus and t. brevior in the environment has been demonstrated, matching previous kn ... | 2015 | 26271902 |
| respiratory nematodes in cat populations of italy. | the occurrence of common respiratory parasites of domestic cats (the metastrongyloid "cat lungworm" aelurostrongylus abstrusus and the trichuroid capillaria aerophila) and of neglected respiratory nematodes of felids (troglostrongylus brevior, angiostrongylus chabaudi and oslerus rostratus) was here evaluated in two and three geographical sites of northern and central italy, respectively. in 2014-2015, individual fecal samples of 868 domestic cats were examined microscopically and genetically, a ... | 2015 | 26319524 |
| irreversible pulmonary hypertension associated with troglostrongylus brevior infection in a kitten. | a four month-old kitten was referred at the veterinary teaching hospital of teramo, italy. physical examination, echocardiography, thoracic radiography, copromicroscopy and biomolecular assays led to a diagnosis of severe parasitic bronchopneumonia by troglostrongylus brevior complicated by pulmonary hypertension. a single administration of a spot on solution containing imidacloprid 10%/moxidectin 1% was effective in stopping larval shedding but clinical, radiographic and echocardiographic signs ... | 2015 | 26412548 |
| evaluation of different methods for the experimental infection of the land snail helix aspersa with aelurostrongylus abstrusus lungworm. | the laboratory maintenance of parasitic life cycles is crucial to support research in many fields of parasitology. the land snail helix aspersa (syn. cornu aspersum), an intermediate host of feline lungworms aelurostrongylus abstrusus and troglostrongylus brevior, is adopted to produce infective stages of those nematodes in laboratory condition. the aim of this study was to compare the most common methods of experimental infection of h. aspersa with first stage larvae (l1) of a. abstrusus (i.e., ... | 2016 | 27369568 |
| single and mixed feline lungworm infections: clinical, radiographic and therapeutic features of 26 cases (2013-2015). | the aim of this study was to retrospectively describe clinical, radiographic and therapeutic features of feline lungworm infection. | 2016 | 27694367 |
| gastropod-derived haemocyte extracellular traps entrap metastrongyloid larval stages of angiostrongylus vasorum, aelurostrongylus abstrusus and troglostrongylus brevior. | phagocyte-derived extracellular traps (ets) were recently demonstrated mainly in vertebrate hosts as an important effector mechanism against invading parasites. in the present study we aimed to characterize gastropod-derived invertebrate extracellular phagocyte trap (inept) formation in response to larval stages of important canine and feline metastrongyloid lungworms. gastropod haemocytes were isolated from the slug species arion lusitanicus and limax maximus, and the snail achatina fulica, and ... | 2017 | 28143510 |
| mitochondrial haplotypes of aelurostrongylus abstrusus and troglostrongylus brevior (nematoda, metastrongyloidea) from domestic and wild felids. | the lungworm aelurostrongylus abstrusus is the most important respiratory parasite of domestic cats. pulmonary aelurostrongylosis has been reported in wild felids, though unequivocally evidence of wildlife infection by a. abstrusus is scant. recently, troglostrongylus brevior, a lungworm usually infecting wild felids, has been described in domestic cats from mediterranean areas. the present work evaluates the sequence variation of an informative region within the gene encoding the mitochondrial ... | 2017 | 28197762 |
| troglostrongylus brevior and troglostrongylus subcrenatus (strongylida: crenosomatidae) as agents of broncho-pulmonary infestation in domestic cats. | aelurostrongylus abstrusus is currently regarded as the main metastrongyloid infesting domestic cats, whereas the reports of troglostrongylus spp. in domestic and wild felids largely remain anecdotic. this paper reports on pulmonary infestation caused by troglostrongylus brevior and troglostrongylus subcrenatus in two kittens and describes, for the first time, associated clinical presentations and pathological features. morphometrical, molecular and phylogenetic analyses have also been conducted ... | 2012 | 22916686 |
| survival of first-stage larvae of the cat lungworm troglostrongylus brevior (strongylida: crenosomatidae) under different conditions. | troglostrongylus brevior has recently been recognised as a neglected causative agent of broncho-pulmonary infestation in domestic cats. nonetheless, information on the biology and ecology of this nematode is still scarce. in this study, the survival of t. brevior first-stage larvae (l1) was evaluated in water and in faecal samples at different controlled temperatures in the laboratory (i.e., 4 and 26°c) or in the outdoor environment (mean temperature 14±3.1°c). vitality of larvae was microscopic ... | 2013 | 24055217 |
| evidence for direct transmission of the cat lungworm troglostrongylus brevior (strongylida: crenosomatidae). | metastrongyloids of cats are emerging pathogens that may cause fatal broncho-pulmonary disease. infestation of definitive hosts occurs after ingestion of intermediate or paratenic hosts. among metastrongyloids of cats, troglostrongylus brevior and troglostrongylus subcrenatus (strongylida: crenosomatidae) have recently been described as agents of severe broncho-pulmonary disease. here, we provide, for the first time, observational evidence suggesting the direct transmission of t. brevior from qu ... | 2013 | 23552474 |
| survey on parasitic infections in wildcat (felis silvestris silvestris schreber, 1777) by scat collection. | wildcats are endangered felid species living in europe, asia, and africa. regrettably, scientific information on parasites of wildcats is particularly meager and they often rely on data gained by necropsies of a small number of animals. in the present study, scat collection was used to assess the parasite spectrum of european wildcats living in the etna park (sicily, italy). scat collection was performed from may to september 2010 by weekly walking four transects for a total of 391 km. samples w ... | 2016 | 26377843 |
| gross and histopathological changes associated with aelurostrongylus abstrusus and troglostrongylus brevior in a kitten. | aelurostrongylus abstrusus affects the respiratory system of domestic cats worldwide, causing different clinical signs. recently, troglostrongylus brevior, a parasite found only in feral and wild animals until 2010, has been regarded as a cause of potentially severe bronchopneumonia in domestic cats. the life cycle of both nematodes involves the same intermediate (i.e. land mollusks) and paratenic hosts (i.e. lizards, birds and small mammals). biological and epidemiological drivers may cause the ... | 2014 | 24548702 |
| lungworms of the genus troglostrongylus (strongylida: crenosomatidae): neglected parasites for domestic cats. | feline lungworms belonging to the troglostrongylus genus have been neglected for a long time. however, recent reports of troglostrongylus brevior and troglostrongylus subcrenatus in domestic cats have stimulated the interest of the scientific community on these lungworms. troglostrongylus spp. have an indirect life cycle, which overlaps that of the better known aelurostrongylus abstrusus. nonetheless, adult worms of both genera have a distinct morphology and localization within the respiratory s ... | 2014 | 24566126 |
| new insights on metastrongyloid lungworms infecting cats of sardinia, italy. | in addition to the well-known aelurostrongylus abstrusus (strongylida: angiostrongylidae), troglostrongylus brevior (strongylida: crenosomatidae) has recently been diagnosed as a causative agent of bronco-pulmonary infections of cats in spain and italy. however, information concerning the impact of this species of lungworm on feline population is limited to a few case reports. from july 2011 to may 2013 an epidemiological survey was carried out on sardinia island (italy), where 107 individual fa ... | 2014 | 24780162 |
| treatment of troglostrongylus brevior (metastrongyloidea, crenosomatidae) in mixed lungworm infections using spot-on emodepside. | feline lungworms have long been known as pathogens of cats. however, an increased incidence of clinical cases in some areas has been the focus of a number of recent epidemiological and clinical studies. while aelurostrongylus abstrusus causes respiratory signs in cats all over the world, troglostrongylus brevior has recently been found in domestic cats from spain and italy (where it often causes severe clinical signs). capillaria aerophila, a parasite that infects many wild carnivores, may cause ... | 2015 | 24793743 |
| simultaneous infection by four feline lungworm species and implications for the diagnosis. | besides aelurostrongylus abstrusus, other parasites belonging to the superfamily metastrongyloidea, namely oslerus rostratus, troglostrongylus brevior and to the family trichuridae, i.e. eucoleus aerophilus (syn. capillaria aerophila), have also been reported as agents of respiratory infection in domestic cats. a case of simultaneous infection by four feline lungworm species in sardinia is herein described. an adult female cat (felis silvestris catus), road-killed in the southeast part of sardin ... | 2015 | 25367212 |
| retrospective study on the occurrence of the feline lungworms aelurostrongylus abstrusus and troglostrongylus spp. in endemic areas of italy. | aelurostrongylus abstrusus is a metastrongyloid nematode infesting the respiratory system of domestic cats worldwide. troglostrongylus brevior and troglostrongylus subcrenatus, two lungworms thought to infest wild felids, have been found recently in domestic cats from spain and italy. these unexpected findings have raised doubts about the assumed past and present occurrence of troglostrongylus spp., especially t. brevior, in domestic hosts and suggest that there may have been missed detection or ... | 2015 | 25577021 |
| the european wildcats (felis silvestris silvestris) as reservoir hosts of troglostrongylus brevior (strongylida: crenosomatidae) lungworms. | the increasing reports of troglostrongylus brevior lungworm in domestic cats from italy and spain raised questions on its factual distribution and on the role wildcats play as reservoirs of these parasites. carcasses of 21 wildcats were collected in natural parks of southern italy (i.e., catania, sicily n=5 and matera, basilicata n=16) and biometrically and genetically identified as felis silvestris silvestris, but two as hybrids. troglostrongylus brevior and eucoleus aerophilus lungworms were f ... | 2014 | 25027610 |
| respiratory distress associated with lungworm infection in a kitten. | a 5-month-old feral kitten developed worsening respiratory signs, including tachypnea, coughing and wheezing after standard anthelmintic treatment with fenbendazole at a local shelter. the kitten was referred to the university of california, davis, william r pritchard veterinary medicine teaching hospital for further evaluation. thoracic radiographs revealed a severe diffuse bronchointerstitial pattern with bronchial cuffing, ill-defined nodules and lymphadenomegaly. differentials included infec ... | 2017 | 28491442 |
| lungworms and gastrointestinal parasites of domestic cats: a european perspective. | with the exception of aelurostrongylus abstrusus, feline lungworms have been poorly studied. information on their distribution is patchy and mostly limited to case reports. in this study, the occurrence of feline lungworms and co-infecting gastrointestinal parasites has been investigated in 12 european countries (i.e. austria, belgium, bulgaria, france, greece, hungary, italy, portugal, romania, spain, switzerland and the united kingdom). an average of 10 domestic cats, with regular outdoor acce ... | 2017 | 28455237 |
| novel molecular assay for simultaneous identification of neglected lungworms and heartworms affecting cats. | 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 d ... | 2015 | 26109447 |
| metastrongyloid infection by aelurostrongylus abstrusus, troglostrongylus brevior and angiostrongylus chabaudi in a domestic cat. | the "cat lungworm", aelurostrongylus abstrusus, affects cats worldwide. recently, other cardio-pulmonary parasites, e.g. troglostrongylus brevior and angiostrongylus chabaudi, have been isolated from cats either for the first time or a long time after they were first described. this paper describes the first known mixed infection by a. abstrusus, t. brevior and a. chabaudi in a domestic cat. biological and epidemiological implications of old and "new" metastrongyloid-caused infections in cats ar ... | 2015 | 26149643 |
| troglostrongylus brevior in an eurasian lynx (lynx lynx) from bosnia and herzegovina. | in the past few years the interest of the scientific community on lungworms of the genus troglostrongylus has grown due to the increased number of unexpected cases of infections with troglostrongylus brevior in domestic cats from mediterranean europe, likely due to a spill-over from wild reservoirs. thus, there is a merit to increase our knowledge on the occurrence of this parasite in felids from european regions. the present paper describes lung lesions associated with t. brevior infection in t ... | 2015 | 26692343 |
| endoparasites of wild mammals sheltered in wildlife hospitals and rehabilitation centres in greece. | wildlife parasitic diseases represent an important field of investigation as they may have a significant impact on wild animals' health and fitness, and may also have zoonotic implications. this study aimed to investigate the occurrence of endoparasites in wild mammals admitted to wildlife hospitals and rehabilitation centres in greece. sixty-five animals belonging to 17 species and originated from various areas of continental and insular greece were included in the survey. the most numerous ani ... | 2017 | 29326954 |
| occurrence of aelurostrongylus abstrusus and troglostrongylus brevior in domestic cats in greece. | despite 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 occu ... | 2015 | 26577206 |
| diagnosis and management of lungworm infections in cats: cornerstones, dilemmas and new avenues. | respiratory parasites infecting domestic cats are attracting increased attention in feline clinical practice. in addition to the most commonly recognised 'cat lungworm' aelurostrongylus abstrusus, troglostrongylus brevior and capillaria aerophila are now considered important pathogens of the respiratory tract of cats. | 2016 | 26733545 |
| occurrence of lungworms in european wildcats (felis silvestris silvestris) of central italy. | 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 sp ... | 2016 | 26967134 |
| pathological and histological findings associated with the feline lungworm troglostrongylus brevior. | troglostrongylus brevior is a neglected feline lungworm species, which has been increasingly reported in the mediterranean area, although scant data are available on the respiratory alterations it causes in cats. therefore, we describe the gross and histological lesions of a 20-week old kitten that succumbed due to the onset of a fulminant respiratory failure. at necropsy, a catarrhal exudate was observed in the airways, along with nematodes in the trachea and bronchi. the lungs were processed f ... | 2014 | 24912956 |
| troglostrongylus brevior and a nonexistent 'dilemma'. | | 2013 | 24080064 |
| first report of troglostrongylus brevior in a kitten in greece. | the first case of a natural infestation with troglostrongylus brevior in a kitten in greece is described here. a ∼40-day-old stray cat was referred to a private veterinary clinic with signs of respiratory distress. first stage larvae of a metastrongyloid nematode were observed in the wet mount faecal preparation. despite an anthelmintic treatment, the respiratory signs worsened and the kitten died 2 days later. the larvae in the faeces were identified morphologically and genetically as t. brevio ... | 2014 | 25195058 |
| occurrence and zoonotic potential of endoparasites in cats of cyprus and a new distribution area for troglostrongylus brevior. | the present study investigated for the first time the occurrence of pulmonary and intestinal parasites of cats in cyprus. cats from five districts of cyprus (lefkosia, lemesos, larnaka, pafos and ammochostos) were examined by classical parasitological methods and the identity of lungworm larvae, whenever present, was confirmed by pcr-coupled sequencing. a total of 185 cats, 48 living exclusively indoors and 137 with outdoor access, were included in the study. parasites were found in 66 (35.7%) o ... | 2017 | 29034414 |
| troglostrongylus brevior: a new parasite for romania. | the genus troglostrongylus includes nematodes infecting domestic and wild felids. troglostrongylus brevior was described six decades ago in palestine and subsequently reported in some european countries (italy, spain, greece, bulgaria, and bosnia and herzegovina). as the diagnosis by the first-stage larvae (l1) may be challenging, there is a possibility of confusion with aelurostrongylus abstrusus. hence, the knowledge on the distribution of this neglected feline parasite is still scarce. the pr ... | 2017 | 29208009 |