Gurltia paralysans: a neglected parasite of domestic cats

Abstract

Gurltia paralysans (order Strongylida; family Angiostrongylidae) is a metastrongyloid parasite that causes chronic meningomyelitis in domestic cats in South America. The geographic distribution of G. paralysans includes rural and peri-urban areas of Chile and Argentina. However, feline gurltiosis has recently been reported in other South American countries, including Uruguay, Colombia, and Brazil, and was also recently reported in Tenerife, Canary Islands (Spain). Feline gurltiosis is increasingly detected in domestic cats in southern Chile and its apparent geographic range is also increasing, together with an awareness of the disease among veterinarians. The life cycle of the parasite is unknown, but is probably indirect, involving gastropods as the intermediate host, as in other metastrongyloid nematode species. The clinical signs of G. paralysans infection include progressive pelvic limb ataxia, paraparesis, paraplegia, faecal or urinary incontinence, and/or tail paralysis. A definitive diagnosis of feline gurltiosis is still challenging and only possible with necropsy, when adult G. paralysans nematodes are detected within the spinal cord vasculature, together with macroscopic lesions, and characteristic morphological features. A semi-nested PCR method was recently developed for the in vivo diagnosis of this neglected parasite. Current treatment options include macrocyclic lactones and mylbemicn oxime, but the prognosis is poor in severe cases. In this article, we review G. paralysans infection in cats, focusing on the diagnosis shortcomings and the future directions of research into its biology and the associated neurological disease. Comprehensive updates on the epidemiology and clinical features, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of feline gurltiosis are provided.

A Molecular Survey on Neglected Gurltia paralysans and Aelurostrongylus abstrusus Infections in Domestic Cats (Felis catus) from Southern Chile

“…Gurltia paralysans is an emerging and neglected metastrongyloid nematode (class Nematoda, order Strongylida, superfamily Metastrongyloidea, family Angiostrongylidae) occurring in domestic cats (Felis catus) and wild felines, such as the kodkod (Leopardus guinia), the northern tiger cat (Leopardus triginus), the margay (Leopardus wieddi), and the Goeffroy's cat (Leopardus geoffroyi) [1,2]. The adult stages of G. paralysans live in the veins of the subarachnoid spinal cord and spinal cord parenchyma [1]. Pathological lesions include thrombi within the spinal veins, vein congestion, varicose veins, and consequent severe and diffuse myelopathies [1,[3][4][5].…”

“…The adult stages of G. paralysans live in the veins of the subarachnoid spinal cord and spinal cord parenchyma [1]. Pathological lesions include thrombi within the spinal veins, vein congestion, varicose veins, and consequent severe and diffuse myelopathies [1,[3][4][5]. The life cycle of G. paralysans is currently unknown, but it has been suggested to have an indirect cycle as occurs for other closely related nematodes of the Angiostrongylidae family [1,6].…”

“…Pathological lesions include thrombi within the spinal veins, vein congestion, varicose veins, and consequent severe and diffuse myelopathies [1,[3][4][5]. The life cycle of G. paralysans is currently unknown, but it has been suggested to have an indirect cycle as occurs for other closely related nematodes of the Angiostrongylidae family [1,6]. Therefore, it has been proposed that terrestrial gastropods (snails and slugs) could act as obligate intermediate hosts (IH), and multiple rodents, insects, reptiles, amphibians, and/or birds participate as paratenic hosts (PH) [6,7].…”

“…Laboratory alterations include mild levels of anemia, eosinophilia, and thrombocytopenia. Imaging findings by conventional myelography (CM) or computed tomographic myelography (CT-myelography), or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), show thinning and obstruction of the dorsal and ventral spine in the thoracolumbar region, as well as a diffuse enlargement of the spinal cord in the thoracic, lumbar, and sacral regions [ 1 , 6 , 8 ]. However, despite the diagnostic tools available at present, definitive determination of feline gurltiosis can only be achieved by post-mortem examination revealing the presence of pre- and adult nematodes within the venous vasculature of the spinal cord [ 1 , 3 ].…”

“…Imaging findings by conventional myelography (CM) or computed tomographic myelography (CT-myelography), or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), show thinning and obstruction of the dorsal and ventral spine in the thoracolumbar region, as well as a diffuse enlargement of the spinal cord in the thoracic, lumbar, and sacral regions [ 1 , 6 , 8 ]. However, despite the diagnostic tools available at present, definitive determination of feline gurltiosis can only be achieved by post-mortem examination revealing the presence of pre- and adult nematodes within the venous vasculature of the spinal cord [ 1 , 3 ]. Recent studies on diagnosis have suggested the use of a semi-nested PCR in serum samples as an additional molecular tool for allowing timely and specific detection of G. paralysans -derived DNA in affected cats [ 2 , 9 ].…”