Severe myelopathy with thrombophlebitis caused by <i>Gurltia paralysans</i> infection in a cat

Moroni, Manuel; Muñoz, Pamela; Mieres, Marcelo; Gómez, Marcelo; Vera, Frank

doi:10.1136/vetreccr-2016-000327

Cited by 6 publications

(30 citation statements)

References 14 publications

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“…Microscopic findings in four cases revealed vascular changes including spinal cord deformation, subarachnoid and parenchymal vein congestion, varicose veins, thrombus and presence of nematode sections compatible with G. paralysans infections. These findings are in accordance with previous reports that revealed parasitic vascular myelitis and intralesional adult parasites that affect mainly the subarachnoid space, the thoracolumbar and lumbosacral spinal cord segments [1,7,11].…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 93%

“…Alternatively, feline gurltiosis diagnosis can be suspected based on clinical signs, diagnostic imaging findings (i.e., CT, Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), and epidemiological features [9]. A final etiological diagnosis is mainly obtained by post-mortem examinations of spinal cords with characteristic vascular lesions and identification of nematodes and/or eggs within extended leptomeningeal vessels [2,9,11].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The definitive diagnosis of feline gurltiosis can only be performed with a post-mortem examination by demonstrating and identifying, morphologically, nematodes in the spinal cord vasculature [1,9] ( Figure 2). An exhaustive clinical exam and complementary tests (cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), hemogram, fecal examination), and imaging findings are necessary to exclude other myelopathies in order to establish a presumptive intra vitam diagnosis of feline gurltiosis [9,11]. Consistently, we have recently sequenced the partial 18S rRNA gene of G. paralysans (GenBank: JX975484) and used it to run a phylogenetic analysis of G. paralysans, revealing nucleotide homology scores of 97% with Angiostrongylus vasorum [10].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Intra Vitam Diagnosis of Neglected Gurltia paralysans Infections in Domestic Cats (Felis catus) by a Commercial Serology Test for Canine Angiostrongylosis and Insights into Clinical and Histopathological Findings—Four-Case Report

et al. 2020

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Gurltia paralysans is a metastrongyloid nematode which belongs to the Angiostrongylidae family and presents tropism for veins of the subarachnoid space in vivo of domestic and wild felids causing a progressive and chronic clinical manifestation of paraparesis/paraplegia. The geographic distribution of G. paralysans includes rural and periurban areas of South America and was recently reported in Europe. To date, a definitive diagnosis of feline gurltiosis is still conducted by post-mortem examination of the spinal cord in affected animals. A presumptive diagnosis of feline gurltiosis can also be achieved based on data of compatible clinical signs and associated epidemiological risk factors. The aim of this preliminary study was to evaluate the commercial serological test Angio Detect TM® (IDEXX Laboratories) as a possible diagnostic method of feline gurltiosis in vivo. For the study, 10 domestic felines (Felis catus) which originated from a high endemic area of Southern Chile, were analyzed. All felines presented chronic paraparesis or severe paraplegia. Subsequently, commercial Angio Detect TM® serological tests for the detection of closely related Angiostrongylus vasorum in canids were performed according to manufacturer's instructions. Conducted serological tests were positive in seven of ten felines showing paraplegia/paraparesis and presumably infected with G. paralysans, and four of them were additionally necropsied, and presented macroscopic findings compatible with feline gurltiosis. Furthermore, the presence of adult female and male G. paralysans specimens at the level of the subarachnoid vasculature in affected spinal cord segments were observed during necropsy. Histopathology demonstrated severe eosinophilic meningomyelitis, coagulopathies with thrombosis in G. paralysans-parasitized leptomeningeal veins. Results of this preliminary study suggest a cross-reaction between A. vasorum-specific antigens, which also parasitize blood vessels in vivo, and G. paralysans when using an Angio Detect TM® test, which suggests its helpful use as a new diagnostic method for feline gurltiosis in live domestic felines. Additional specific antigen research will be required in order to better understand the sensitivity and specificity of A. vasorum antigens used in this test and for existing cross-reactivity with G. paralysans-derived antigens for future a suitable intra vitam immunodiagnosis of neglected feline gurltiosis.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 93%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Intra Vitam Diagnosis of Neglected Gurltia paralysans Infections in Domestic Cats (Felis catus) by a Commercial Serology Test for Canine Angiostrongylosis and Insights into Clinical and Histopathological Findings—Four-Case Report

et al. 2020

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“…Feline gurltiosis should always be considered as a differential diagnosis in cats with neurological signs related to thoracolumbar/lumbosacral spinal cord damage [39]. Demonstration and morphological identification of the nematodes in the spinal cord vasculature is the definitive diagnosis.…”

Section: Clinical Signs and Diagnosticmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Neglected Angio-Neurotrophic Parasite Gurltia paralysans (Nematoda: Angiostrongylidae): Northernmost South American Distribution, Current Knowledge, and Future Perspectives

2021

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Gurltia paralysans is a rare metastrongyloid nematode in South America that has begun to gain relevance in feline internal medicine as a differential diagnosis of progressive degenerative myelopathy disorders. The parasite life cycle has not been fully elucidated but probably involves invertebrate gastropod fauna as obligate intermediate hosts; thus, G. paralysans remaining an extremely neglected parasitosis. Feline gurltiosis intra vitam diagnosis is highly challenging due to lack of evidence in the excretion of G. paralysans eggs and larvae, neither in feces nor in other body secretions because environmental stages and the transmission route of the parasite remain unknown. Unfortunately, no experimental trials for the treatment of feline gurltiosis have been conducted to date. However, there are some reports of the successfully antiparasitic drugs used with different effectiveness and clinical improvement results in diagnosed cats. Further studies are needed to evaluate the parasite occurrence among domestic cats and the neotropical wild felid species distributed within Colombia in addition to the gastropod fauna that may harbor the developing larvae (L1–L3) stages of this underestimated parasite.

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“…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].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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

et al. 2021

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Gurltia paralysans and Aelurostrongylus abstrusus are neglected metastrongyloid nematode species which infect domestic and wild cats in South American countries and in Chile, but no epidemiological studies on concomitant infections have been conducted in Chile so far. The aim of this study was not only to evaluate the occurrence of concomitant infections, but also to identify epidemiological risk factors associated with of G. paralysans and A. abstrusus infections in urban domestic cats (Felis catus) from Southern Chile. Blood samples from clinically healthy domestic cats from three cities of Southern Chile—Temuco, Valdivia, and Puerto Montt—were analyzed by an experimental semi-nested PCR protocol. A total of 171 apparently healthy domestic cats in Temuco (n = 68), Valdivia (n = 50), and Puerto Montt (n = 53) were sampled and analyzed. A total of 93 domestic cats (54.4%) were positive for G. paralysans, and 34 (19.9%) were positive for A. abstrusus infections. From those animals, 34 (19.9%) were co-infected. Cats positive with G. paralysans were found in all three cities; 47.2% in Puerto Montt, 48% in Valdivia, and 64.7% in Temuco. Levels of infection for A. abstrusus in the population under study were 4% (Valdivia), 10% (Puerto Montt), and 32.4% (Temuco). The present large-scale epidemiological study confirmed the presence of these neglected nematodes in domestic cat populations in Southern Chile, and described the possible risk factors associated with feline gurltiosis and aelurostrongylosis.

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Severe myelopathy with thrombophlebitis caused by Gurltia paralysans infection in a cat

Cited by 6 publications

References 14 publications

Intra Vitam Diagnosis of Neglected Gurltia paralysans Infections in Domestic Cats (Felis catus) by a Commercial Serology Test for Canine Angiostrongylosis and Insights into Clinical and Histopathological Findings—Four-Case Report

Intra Vitam Diagnosis of Neglected Gurltia paralysans Infections in Domestic Cats (Felis catus) by a Commercial Serology Test for Canine Angiostrongylosis and Insights into Clinical and Histopathological Findings—Four-Case Report

The Neglected Angio-Neurotrophic Parasite Gurltia paralysans (Nematoda: Angiostrongylidae): Northernmost South American Distribution, Current Knowledge, and Future Perspectives

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

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