Hansen Alice P, Skarbye Line K, Vinther Lene M, Willesen Jakob L, Pipper Christian B, Olsen Caroline S, Mejer Helena
Department of Veterinary Animal Science, University of Copenhagen, Dyrlægevej 100, DK-1871 Frederiksberg C, Denmark.
Department of Veterinary Animal Science, University of Copenhagen, Dyrlægevej 100, DK-1871 Frederiksberg C, Denmark.
Vet Parasitol. 2017 Jan 30;234:31-39. doi: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2016.12.015. Epub 2016 Dec 21.
Feline endoparasites are highly prevalent worldwide and may cause a variety of clinical signs in infected cats. Prevalence rates are dynamic and there is limited knowledge of the current prevalence in Denmark and the clinical manifestation and significance of especially the lungworm Aelurostrongylus abstrusus. This study investigated the total and local prevalence of Aelurostrongylus abstrusus and other endoparasites in Danish cats. The clinical significance of feline aelurostrongylosis was also examined through identification of frequency and severity of selected clinical signs. Faecal samples (n=327) and clinical data (n=312) were collected from August to October 2015, primarily from outdoor cats located at shelters distributed across Denmark. A modified Baermann method and a concentration McMaster technique was used to diagnose A. abstrusus first stage larvae and eggs/oocysts of other endoparasites. The total A. abstrusus prevalence was 8.3% [95% CI: 5.6-11.9] but local prevalence rates varied from 0% [95% CI: 0.0-8.8] to 31.4% [95% CI: 16.9-49.3]. A rural habitat appeared to increase the risk of A. abstrusus and this accounted for most of the local variation. Furthermore, the risk of infection was lower in kittens younger than 11 weeks compared to older cats (p=0.002). The cats were also infected with Toxocara cati (44.4% [95% CI: 38.3-50.7]), taeniid species (8.9% [95% CI: 5.7-13.0]), Capillaria aerophila (3.1% [95% CI: 1.3-6.0]), Aonchotheca putorii (3.9% [95% CI: 1.9-7.0]), Cystoisospora felis (3.1% [95% CI: 1.3-6.0]) and Cystoisospora rivolta (2.3% [95% CI: 0.9-5.0]), but there was no difference in local distribution. Co-infection was common, as 66.7% of A. abstrusus infected cats were also infected with one or more other parasites, the most common being T. cati. However, none of these parasites were significantly associated with A. abstrusus. The vast majority of the A. abstrusus infected cats displayed mild to moderate clinical signs. The main symptoms associated with the infection were increased sound on auscultation of the lungs (p=0.002), increased respiratory rate (p=0.02), coughing (p=0.007) and enlarged mandibular lymph nodes (p=0.002). None of these symptoms were associated with T. cati or C. aerophila which may also affect the lungs. This supports that the symptoms may be related to A. abstrusus and that aelurostrongylosis should be considered an important differential diagnosis in any feline respiratory patient.
猫体内寄生虫在全球范围内高度流行，可在感染的猫身上引发多种临床症状。流行率是动态变化的，目前丹麦的流行情况以及尤其是肺线虫——隐匿猫圆线虫的临床表现和重要性方面的知识有限。本研究调查了丹麦猫体内隐匿猫圆线虫和其他体内寄生虫的总体及局部流行情况。还通过确定选定临床症状的频率和严重程度来检查猫肺线虫病的临床重要性。2015年8月至10月收集了粪便样本（n = 327）和临床数据（n = 312），主要来自丹麦各地收容所的户外猫。采用改良贝曼法和浓缩麦克马斯特技术诊断隐匿猫圆线虫第一期幼虫以及其他体内寄生虫的虫卵/卵囊。隐匿猫圆线虫的总体流行率为8.3% [95%置信区间：5.6 - 11.9]，但局部流行率从0% [95%置信区间：0.0 - 8.8]到31.4% [95%置信区间：16.9 - 49.3]不等。农村栖息地似乎会增加隐匿猫圆线虫的感染风险，这是造成局部差异的主要原因。此外，与年龄较大的猫相比，11周龄以下的小猫感染风险较低（p = 0.002）。这些猫还感染了猫弓首蛔虫（44.4% [95%置信区间：38.3 - 50.7]）、带绦虫属（8.9% [95%置信区间：5.7 - 13.0]）、嗜气毛细线虫（3.1% [95%置信区间：1.3 - 6.0]）、猫筒线虫（3.9% [95%置信区间：1.9 - 7.0]）、猫等孢球虫（3.1% [95%置信区间：1.3 - 6.0]）和里氏等孢球虫（2.3% [95%置信区间：0.9 - 5.0]），但局部分布没有差异。混合感染很常见，因为66.7%感染隐匿猫圆线虫的猫也感染了一种或多种其他寄生虫，最常见的是猫弓首蛔虫。然而，这些寄生虫均与隐匿猫圆线虫无显著关联。绝大多数感染隐匿猫圆线虫的猫表现出轻度至中度临床症状。与感染相关的主要症状是肺部听诊声音增强（p = 0.002）、呼吸频率增加（p = 0.02）、咳嗽（p = 0.007）和下颌淋巴结肿大（p = 0.002）。这些症状均与也可能影响肺部的猫弓首蛔虫或嗜气毛细线虫无关。这支持了这些症状可能与隐匿猫圆线虫有关，并且在任何猫呼吸道疾病患者中都应将猫肺线虫病视为重要的鉴别诊断。
