RADIOGRAPHIC FINDINGS OF DOMESTIC CATS NATURALLY INFECTED BY Aelurostrongylus abstrusus
Fecal examination, radiography, feline lungworm
Lower respiratory tract disorders can be attributed to infectious and non-infectious causes. Aelurostrongylus abstrusus (Nematoda, Metastrongyloidea, Angiostrongylidae) is the lung parasite of domestic cats most frequently diagnosed as causing lung disease with worldwide geographic coverage. However, due to the need for specific coproparasitological examination, which is infrequent in the worldwide laboratory routine, it becomes an underdiagnosed condition. On the other hand, chest radiography is commonly required and easily accessible, becoming an important tool in aiding the diagnosis of lung diseases. However, there are no radiographic findings specific to aelurostrongylosis, making it difficult to correlate it as a possible differential diagnosis. The present study aimed to correlate the presence of the parasite by means of Baermann's coproparasitological techniques and its modification, with the thoracic radiographic findings of domestic cats positive for the parasite. Fresh fecal samples will be selected, without predilection for sex, age or breed, with free access to the street or recently adopted, attended at the Domestic Cat Care Service of the HVPA Sector of UFRRJ, for various reasons. Naturally infected animals were submitted to clinical, hematological and thoracic radiographic evaluation. A total of 522 animals were analyzed, of which three were positive, female, recently rescuedand, only one, presented pulmonary symptoms and radiographic alterations compatible with its degree of parasitism. The data obtained from the present study are subjected to statistical analysis.