Serological survey and risk factors of Aelurostrongylus abstrusus infection among owned cats in Italy

Cavalera, Maria Alfonsa; Schnyder, Manuela; Gueldner, Emily Katharina; Furlanello, Tommaso; Iatta, Roberta; Brianti, Emanuele; Strübe, Christina; Colella, Vito; Otranto, Domenico

doi:10.1007/s00436-019-06373-z

Cited by 15 publications

(16 citation statements)

References 31 publications

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“…When utilizing a horseradish peroxidase (HRP)-conjugated secondary antibody, sensitivity ranged from 88.2% to 100% and specificity from 85% to 92.6%, depending on the used plate type [ 28 ]. Until now, the ELISA has mainly been used in epizootiological research studies but is not commercially available for clinical diagnosis, although it is offered and performed in specialised labs [ 30 , 31 , 32 , 33 ]. It should be taken into account that based on the nature of the diagnostic antigen, seroconversion is dependent on the presence of adult male lungworms.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Do All Roads Lead to Rome? The Potential of Different Approaches to Diagnose Aelurostrongylus abstrusus Infection in Cats

Raue

Raue²,

Hauck

et al. 2021

Pathogens

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An infection with the cat lungworm, Aelurostrongylus abstrusus, can be subclinical, but it can also cause severe respiratory clinical signs. Larvae excretion, antibody levels, clinical assessment findings of the respiratory system and diagnostic imaging findings were recorded and compared for six cats with experimental aelurostrongylosis. In five cats, patency started 33–47 days post infection (pi), but two cats excreted larvae only in long intervals and low numbers. Positive ELISA results were observed in four cats with patent aelurostrongylosis, starting between five days before and 85 days after onset of patency. One seropositive cat remained copromicroscopically negative. Mild respiratory signs were observed in all cats examined. A computed tomographic (CT) examination of the lungs displayed distinct alterations, even in absence of evident clinical signs or when larvae excretion was low or negative. The thoracic radiograph evaluation correlated with the CT results, but CT was more distinctive. After anthelmintic treatment in the 25th week post infection, pulmonary imaging findings improved back to normal within 6–24 weeks. This study shows that a multifaceted approach, including diagnostic imaging, can provide a clearer diagnosis and monitoring of disease progression. Furthermore, a CT examination provides an alternative to post mortem examination and worm counts in anthelmintic efficacy studies.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Do All Roads Lead to Rome? The Potential of Different Approaches to Diagnose Aelurostrongylus abstrusus Infection in Cats

Raue

Raue²,

Hauck

et al. 2021

Pathogens

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“…Christmas Island 25.0% [24]). A supposed risk factor for A. abstrusus infection is young age [5,13,19,23,25], potentially due to an immature immune system [23,26]. Other factors that have been linked to a higher prevalence are neutering status [5,13], FIV infection [25] and outdoor access [5,10,13].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…An ELISA for the detection of serum antibodies against A. abstrusus using recombinantly expressed bovine lungworm major sperm protein (MSP) as diagnostic antigen [28] has been recently developed [26]. However, this serological test is being used only in experimental and epizootiological studies so far [13,18,20,25].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Efficacy of Bravecto® Plus spot-on solution for cats (280 mg/ml fluralaner and 14 mg/ml moxidectin) for the prevention of aelurostrongylosis in experimentally infected cats

et al. 2021

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Background The feline lungworm Aelurostrongylus abstrusus affects the lower respiratory tract in cats worldwide. As infections may lead to chronic respiratory changes or even death, preventive treatment in cats with outdoor access is warranted. Methods The preventive efficacy of a spot-on solution (Bravecto® Plus spot-on solution for cats, MSD) against cat aelurostrongylosis was evaluated using three different preventive treatment regimes in a negative controlled, randomized and partially blinded laboratory efficacy study with 31 purposed-bred cats. The minimum recommended dose of 2.0 mg moxidectin + 40 mg fluralaner/kg bodyweight was applied once 12 (Group [G]1), 8 (G2) or 4 (G3) weeks before experimental infection with 300 third-stage larvae (L3) of A. abstrusus. Another group served as untreated control (G4). Individual faecal samples were analysed as of day 30 post infection (pi) to monitor larvae excretion. Necropsy was performed at days 47–50 pi. The lungs were examined macroscopically for pathological findings and (pre-)adult worms were counted to assess preventive efficacy. Results Beginning at day 32–40 pi, all cats of the control group were constantly shedding larvae of A. abstrusus, whereas only one animal of G1 excreted larvae at several consecutive days. In addition, two cats of G1 and G3 and three of G2 were positive on a single occasion. The geometric mean (GM) of the maximum number of excreted larvae was 7574.29 in the control group compared to 1.10 (G1), 1.19 (G2) and 0.53 (G3), resulting in a GM reduction of > 99.9% in all treatment groups. All lungs of the control animals showed severe or very severe alterations at necropsy, while in 94.44% of the treated cats lung pathology was rated as absent or mild. The GM number of (pre-)adult A. abstrusus retrieved from the lungs was 26.57 in the control group, 0.09 in G1 and 0.00 in G2 and G3. Thus, GM worm count reduction was 99.66% in G1 and 100% in G2 and G3. Conclusions A single application of Bravecto® Plus spot-on solution at a dose of 2.0 mg moxidectin + 40 mg fluralaner/kg bodyweight reliably prevents cat aelurostrongylosis for at least 12 weeks.

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“…They all belong to the same taxonomic family, have a comparable life cycle, and may result in serological cross-reactions when testing for anti-A. abstrusus antibodies [17,21]. Capillaria spp.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Aelurostrongylus abstrusus Antibody Seroprevalence Reveals That Cats Are at Risk of Infection throughout Germany

et al. 2021

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Cats infected with the metastrongylid nematode Aelurostrongylus abstrusus may show clinical signs ranging from mild to severe respiratory disease or remain unobserved, despite damages present in the lung tissue. This study aimed to determine the seroprevalence and distribution of A. abstrusus in cats by testing serum samples from all over Germany to identify potential risk areas and strengthen disease awareness accordingly. Sera of 2998 cats were screened for the presence of antibodies against A. abstrusus by ELISA, and the data were evaluated by a geographic information system to visualise the regional distribution of the analysed samples. Overall, 12.0% of the samples tested positive (361/2998 cats, 95% confidence interval: 10.9–13.3%). Seropositive cats were identified throughout the country, suggesting that all cats in Germany with outdoor access are at risk of A. abstrusus infection and that the infection is overall underdiagnosed. Increased testing for A. abstrusus infection would allow earlier detection of infected animals, hence improving the life quality and health of cats and preventing potential death under anaesthesia.

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Serological survey and risk factors of Aelurostrongylus abstrusus infection among owned cats in Italy

Cited by 15 publications

References 31 publications

Do All Roads Lead to Rome? The Potential of Different Approaches to Diagnose Aelurostrongylus abstrusus Infection in Cats

Do All Roads Lead to Rome? The Potential of Different Approaches to Diagnose Aelurostrongylus abstrusus Infection in Cats

Efficacy of Bravecto® Plus spot-on solution for cats (280 mg/ml fluralaner and 14 mg/ml moxidectin) for the prevention of aelurostrongylosis in experimentally infected cats

Aelurostrongylus abstrusus Antibody Seroprevalence Reveals That Cats Are at Risk of Infection throughout Germany

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