Abstract
Background: Lungworms are recognized as important agents in the pathology of the respiratory system in domestic cats. While Aelurostrongylus abstrusus is worldwide known and studied, Troglostrongylus brevior has gained the attention of the scientific community only in the last decade. The pathogenicity of this species seems to be higher than A. abstrusus, causing more severe clinical presentations and being potentially fatal, especially in young animals. Methods: In this study, 371 DNA isolates of faecal samples were tested by multiplex polymerase chain reaction for the presence of A. abstrusus, T. brevior, and Angiostrongylus chabaudi. Results: The results showed that 30.2% and 6.7% of the investigated domestic cats were positive for A. abstrusus and T. brevior respectively, stressing out the importance of these parasites as agents of respiratory conditions in domestic cats from Romania. None of the samples were positive for A. chabaudi. The age, the outdoor access, and the lack of deworming were identified as significant risk factors for infection with A. abstrusus. Conclusions: This paper represents the first report of T. brevior in domestic cats from Romania. Moreover, it presents the most northern localization in Europe of T. brevior.
Highlights
In veterinary practice, lungworm infections in cats are of particular importance for the differential diagnosis of various respiratory diseases, being an important etiological agent of these conditions
In the light of these new reports in our country and considering the importance of these agents in the respiratory pathology of cats, we aimed to perform a retrospective study to evaluate the prevalence of metastrongyloid lungworms (A. abstrusus, T. brevior, and A. chabaudi) in domestic cats from Romania using molecular techniques
Prophylactic anthelminthic treatments were performed in 30.5% of the investigated cats, with different frequencies using various commercial products (Cestal Cat®, Drontal Cat®, Pratel®, Biheldon®, Caniverm®, and Stronghold® )
Summary
Lungworm infections in cats are of particular importance for the differential diagnosis of various respiratory diseases, being an important etiological agent of these conditions. A. abstrusus and C. aerophila are the most well-known, studied, and prevalent lungworm of domestic cats (Felis silvestris catus), causing infections in cats worldwide [2]. While Aelurostrongylus abstrusus is worldwide known and studied, Troglostrongylus brevior has gained the attention of the scientific community only in the last decade. The pathogenicity of this species seems to be higher than A. abstrusus, causing more severe clinical presentations and being potentially fatal, especially in young animals. Results: The results showed that 30.2% and 6.7% of the investigated domestic cats were positive for A. abstrusus and T. brevior respectively, stressing out the importance of these parasites as agents of respiratory conditions in domestic cats from Romania. The age, the outdoor access, and the lack of deworming were identified as significant risk factors for infection with A
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