Severe respiratory distress in a stray cat caused by the lungworm Aelurostrongylus abstrusus: A first case report in Lithuania

Abstract

Aelurostrongylus abstrusus is the most common feline lungworm worldwide. A 4 months old male cat with a history of coughing and dyspnoea was presented to a small animal clinic in Lithuania. Upon clinical examination tachypnoea (64 bpm), cough, stridor, wheezing sound, end-inspiratory crackles, dyspnoea and pulmonary oedema were recorded. Due to suspected bacterial infection and pulmonary oedema, the cat was treated with antibiotics and diuretics for 40 days, without improvement. On week 7 following the first visit, haematology revealed leucocytosis, lymphocytosis, monocytosis and eosinophilia. Thoracic radiographs showed multiple pulmonary alternations. Microscopic examination of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and faeces (Baermann migration test) confirmed an infection with A. abstrusus by detection of first stage larvae. The cat was treated with spot-on moxidectin/imidacloprid (Advocate® for cats, Elanco Animal Health GmbH) according to manufacturer's instructions. The L1 of A. abstrusus were still present in the faeces 3 weeks, and cough persisted 4 weeks following the first treatment with moxidectin; anthelmintic treatment was therefore continued with a fipronil/praziquantel/eprinomectin spot-on solution (Broadline®; Boehringer Ingelheim/Merial) according to manufacturer's instructions. No L1 of A. abstrusus were present in the faeces 7 weeks and cough disappeared 11 weeks following the first treatment with moxidectin.