Abstract
The cat lungworm Aelurostrongylus abstrusus is a cause of lower respiratory tract disease worldwide. Bronchoscopy and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) are important tools for diagnosing respiratory diseases in cats. Therefore, the aim of the study was to investigate the usefulness of bronchoscopy and BAL in the diagnosis of A. abstrusus. Findings from bronchoscopic examination and BAL of 24 naturally infected cats were evaluated and compared with those of 12 cats with idiopathic Feline Bronchial Diseases (FBDs). Data were analyzed using Mann-Whitney or Fisher's exact tests. No significant bronchoscopic differences were detected between cats with aelurostrongylosis and FBDs in bronchial mucus, nodular lesions, and airway collapse. On the other hand, airway hyperemia, epithelial irregularities, and bronchial stenosis were observed more frequently in cats affected by FBDs than aelurostrongylosis, while bronchiectasis was found only in cats infected by A. abstrusus. Neutrophilic, eosinophilic, lymphocytic, and mixed inflammation were recorded in both groups. Bacteria or bacterial DNA was identified regardless of the presence or absence of A. abstrusus with no significant differences between groups. Larvae of A. abstrusus were cytologically detected in 5 of the 24 cats (20.8%) with aelurostrongylosis. These results indicate that, although some findings on bronchoscopic examination (i.e., bronchiectasis) can be described more frequently in cats infected by A. abstrusus, bronchial alterations and cytological findings in aelurostrongylosis are not specific unless larvae are observed and overlap with those of other feline airway diseases.
Highlights
Cats affected by lower respiratory tract disease often present for a chronic cough with gradually increasing respiratory distress and non-specific signs such as exercise intolerance and anorexia
The aims of this study were to investigate endoscopic and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid features of A. abstrusus-infected cats and to determine their usefulness in the diagnosis of feline aelurostrongylosis in comparison to findings recorded in cats with idiopathic Feline Bronchial Diseases (FBDs)
Twenty-four cats were infected by A. abstrusus (Group Aa) and the diagnosis of infection was made by the fecal Baermann test and confirmed with PCRs specific for cat metastrongyloids [8, 9]
Summary
Cats affected by lower respiratory tract disease often present for a chronic cough with gradually increasing respiratory distress and non-specific signs such as exercise intolerance and anorexia. Bronchoscopy in Feline Aelurostrongylosis (Felis silvestris catus) [3]. This parasite occurs worldwide and, in areas where it is endemic, aelurostrongyslosis represents one of the main differential diagnoses for lower respiratory tract disease in cats [3]. Copromicroscopic examination is a simple, inexpensive and reliable in-house test, and should always be considered as a first step in the diagnostic work-up for feline lower airway diseases, especially in at-risk subjects [4]. The Baermann test is considered the gold standard to diagnose feline aelurostrongylosis [3]. False negative results are possible, it may be necessary to leave the specimen set up overnight and repeated examinations are necessary to enhance its sensitivity, in some cases, it may take several days
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