Raue Katharina, Raue Jonathan, Hauck Daniela, Söbbeler Franz, Morelli Simone, Traversa Donato, Schnyder Manuela, Volk Holger, Strube Christina
Institute for Parasitology, Centre for Infection Medicine, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, 30559 Hannover, Germany.
Department for Small Animal Medicine and Surgery, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, 30559 Hannover, Germany.
Pathogens. 2021 May 14;10(5):602. doi: 10.3390/pathogens10050602.
An infection with the cat lungworm, , 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 examination and worm counts in anthelmintic efficacy studies.
感染猫肺线虫，可能是亚临床感染，但也可能导致严重的呼吸道临床症状。记录并比较了六只患有实验性猫圆线虫病的猫的幼虫排泄情况、抗体水平、呼吸系统的临床评估结果和诊断性影像学检查结果。在五只猫中，感染后33 - 47天开始出现排虫，但有两只猫仅在很长的间隔时间内排出少量幼虫。在五只出现排虫的猫中，有四只在排虫开始前五天至排虫开始后85天之间，ELISA检测结果呈阳性。有一只血清学阳性的猫粪便显微镜检查仍为阴性。在所有接受检查的猫中均观察到轻度呼吸道症状。即使在没有明显临床症状或幼虫排泄量低或为阴性的情况下，肺部计算机断层扫描（CT）检查也显示出明显的改变。胸部X线片评估结果与CT结果相关，但CT更为清晰。在感染后第25周进行驱虫治疗后，肺部影像学检查结果在6 - 24周内恢复正常。这项研究表明，包括诊断性影像学检查在内的多方面方法能够更清晰地诊断和监测疾病进展。此外，在驱虫效果研究中，CT检查可替代粪便检查和虫卵计数。
