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Feline lungworm Oslerus rostratus (Strongylida: Filaridae) in Italy: first case report and histopathological findings

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Abstract

Oslerus rostratus syn. Anafilaroides rostratus (Strongylida: Filaroididae) is a metastrongyloid transmitted by snails, which localizes in peri-bronchial tissues and in the lung parenchyma of wild as well as domestic cats. In Europe, this nematode has been reported only on two occasions, being diagnosed in cats from Majorca Island and in northern Spain. Here, we describe a case of O. rostratus infection in a necropsied 4-year-old cat in Sicily (southern Italy). At the inspection of lungs, slender and greyish nematodes (four females and two males) were found embedded in the peri-bronchial tissues and in the bronchial walls. Parasites were morphological and molecularly identified as O. rostratus, with their 18S sequences being identical among them and showing a high homology (99 %) with those available in public databases. At the histology, nematodes were encapsulated in a pseudo-cystic formation surrounded by an interstitial inflammatory process and fibrous tissue. Lung lesions were mainly represented by peri-luminal fibrosis, hyperplasia and hypertrophy of the bronchial mucosa and glands, respectively. This first record of O. rostratus infection from Italy indicates that this parasite should be included in the differential diagnosis of feline of lungworm infection.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Dipartimento di Scienze Veterinarie, Università degli Studi di Messina, Polo Universitario Annunziata, 98168, Messina, Italy

    Emanuele Brianti, Gabriella Gaglio, Ettore Napoli, Luigi Falsone, Salvatore Giannetto & Giuseppe Mazzullo

  2. Dipartimento di Medicina Veterinaria, Università degli Studi di Bari, Valenzano, Bari, Italy

    Alessio Giannelli, Giada Annoscia & Domenico Otranto

  3. Laboratorio di Parassitologia, Ospedale Didattico Veterinario, Dipartimento di Medicina Veterinaria, Università degli Studi di Sassari, Sassari, Italy

    Antonio Varcasia

Authors
  1. Emanuele Brianti
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  2. Gabriella Gaglio
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  3. Ettore Napoli
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  4. Luigi Falsone
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  5. Alessio Giannelli
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  6. Giada Annoscia
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  7. Antonio Varcasia
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  8. Salvatore Giannetto
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  9. Giuseppe Mazzullo
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  10. Domenico Otranto
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Correspondence to Emanuele Brianti.

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Brianti, E., Gaglio, G., Napoli, E. et al. Feline lungworm Oslerus rostratus (Strongylida: Filaridae) in Italy: first case report and histopathological findings. Parasitol Res 113, 3853–3857 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-014-4053-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-014-4053-z

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