Aelurostrongylus abstrusus
The feline lungworm – Aelurostrongylus abstrusus, is a rising issue in areas such as North America and many European countries [1]. A. abstrusus is a worldwide parasite and is present amongst large reservoirs [2]. Namely because it does not show clear signs of infection, and when signs may be present, they are easily confused with other diseases, such as asthma, feline bronchial disease, verminous pneumonia, pulmonary edema, or pulmonary contusion [3].
The general clinical signs of lungworm as well as prevention methods are detailed on our lungworm overview page.
A. abstrusus Lifecycle
The lifecycle of A. abstrusus is indirect, and it begins inside the definitive host – cats; eggs are first produced by adult females, which then hatch in the lungs as the first larval stage (L1). These migrate up by trachea (commonly coughed up) and then are swallowed and follow the alimentary canal thorough to excretion in the faeces [4].
The L1 stage then targets the foot of an intermediate mollusan host (snails and slugs) wherein they invade the tissue and develop through to the L3 stage, which is now infective to a cat. Following this, the intermediate host is then ingested by one of the paratenic hosts (frogs, lizards, mice, snakes, small birds, toads, rodents) and then by the definitive host when they are hunted, however an intermediate host may be ingested directly in some cases – this all depends on preference [5].
This ingested prey animal is then digested and the final larval form is freed – this then penetrates the mucosal lining of the stomach and migrates through the bloodstream or lymphatic system towards the pulmonary region of the body and into the lung parenchyma. Adult worms can be found in the alvaeoli and terminal bronchioles after 8-9 days following ingestion of the larval form.
Adult females will begin to lay approximately at 4 weeks after ingestion, however the prepatent period can be up to 6 weeks long (28-42 days) [6]. It should be noted that eggs may not always be present in faeces as an indicator of infection, even if adults are present.
Identification [7,8]
- Adult Female: 9 mm long, Vulva lies just anterior to the anus, and the tail ends bluntly.
- Eggs: Ellipsoid egg in the lung approximately 80 μm long
- Adult Male: 4-7 mm long
- L1 stage: 360-390 μm long, have “kinky” tail with a dorsal spine.
Other lungworm articles
- Lungworm in dogs – Crenosoma vulpis
- Lungworm in sheep – Dictyocaulus filaria
- Lungworm in cattle – Dictyocaulus viviparus
If you are looking to get in touch directly concerning A. abstructus, click here.
Bibliography
- https://parasitesandvectors.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s13071-018-2765-0
- https://parasitesandvectors.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s13071-015-1200-z
- https://www.msdvetmanual.com/cat-owners/lung-and-airway-disorders-of-cats/lungworm-infection-in-cats
- Hobmaier M, Hobmaier A. Mammalian phase of the lungworm Aelurostrongylus abstrusus in the cat. J Am Vet Med Ass. 1935b;87:191–198.
- 12. Hobmaier M, Hobmaier A. Intermediate hosts of Aelurostrongylus abstrusus of the cat. Proc Soc Exp Biol Med. 1935a;32:1641–1647.
- https://www.aavp.org/wiki/nematodes/strongylida/metastrongyloidea/aelurostrongylus-abstrusus/
- Crisi PE, Aste G, Traversa D, Di Cesare A, Febo E, Vignoli M, Santori D, Luciani A, Boari A. Single and mixed feline lungworm infections: clinical, radiographic and therapeutic features of 26 cases (2013-2015). JFMS Open Reports. 2017; 19: 1017-1029.Gambino J, Heiber E, Johnson M, Williams M. Diagnosis of Aelurostrongylus abstrusus verminous pneumonia via sonography-guided fine-needle pulmonary parenchymal aspiration in a cat. JFMS Open Reports. 2016; 2: 1-7.
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4936016/