Feline aelurostrongylosis – an underdiagnosed pulmonar parasitosis

Abstract

Aelurostrongylosis is an important pulmonary parasitic disease that affects domestic and wild cats, whose etiological agent is the nematode Aelurostrongylus abstrusus. The clinical features can vary subclinical to coughing and respiratory distress. A. abstrusus infection is considered underdiagnosed and neglected by veterinarians worldwide, due to few reports in recent years. Therefore, the aim of this review was to gather data on the knowledge of etiology, epidemiology, clinical aspects, diagnostic and used methods currently available for felines aelurostrongilose, as well as alerts on the impact of the disease on animal health.