Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Canine and Feline Infections by Cardiopulmonary Nematodes in Central and Southern Italy

  • Published:
Parasitology Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Capillaria aerophila, Aelurostrongylus abstrusus, Angiostrongylus vasorum and Dirofilaria immitis are cardiopulmonary nematodes affecting dogs and cats and presently emerging in several countries. The results obtained in 2009 – 2010 during a study aiming to investigate the occurrence of these nematodes in regions from Central (Marche and Abruzzo regions – Sites A and B, respectively) and southern (Apulia – Site C) Italy are here reported. A total of 534 and 436 individual faecal samples collected from dogs and cats were examined, together with 471 and 34 faecal environmental samples taken from dog shelters and catteries. One hundred and ninety-two individual blood samples were also collected from dogs. Faeces were examined using copromicroscopical flotations and Baermann technique, whereas blood samples were tested by Knott’s method. Eggs of C. aerophila were detected in 1.48 % and 20 % (Site A), 8.67 % and 2.71 % (Site B), and 16.67 % and 0 % (Site C) of individual and environmental canine samples. C. aerophila was found in 2.90 % (Site A), 3.03 % (Site B) and 14.29 % (Site C) of individual cats. Larvae of A. vasorum were found in 0.96 % and 2.48 % of individual and environmental samples from Site B, respectively, while those of A. abstrusus in 1.82 % (Site A) and 9.96 % (Site B) of individual faeces. Microfilariae of Dirofilaria immitis, identified on the basis of key morphological and morphometric features, were detected in 2.56 % of samples collected from Site B. Despite the small sample size, these results indicate that cardiopulmonary nematodes occur in Central and southern Italy, thus they should be included in the differential diagnosis of pet cardiorespiratory diseases. Larger surveys are necessary to gain more information on the diffusion of these parasites, especially for C. aerophila and A. vasorum, for which the actual distribution is poorly known.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Åblad B, Christensson D, Lind E, Agren E, Morner T (2003) Angiostrongylus vasorum etablerad i Sverige. Sven Veterinärtidning 12:11 – 15.

    Google Scholar 

  • Barrs VR, Martin P, Nicoll RG, Beatty JA, Malik R (2000) Pulmonary cryptococcosis and Capillaria aerophila infection in an FIV-positive cat. Aust Vet J 78:154 – 158.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Barutzki D, Schaper R (2003) Endoparasites in dogs and cats in Germany 1999 – 2002. Parasitol Res 90:148 – 150.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Barutzki D, Schaper R (2009) Natural infections of Angiostrongylus vasorum and Crenosoma vulpis in dogs in Germany (2007 – 2009). Parasitol Res 105:39 – 48.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bowman D, Hendrix C, Lindsay D, Barr S (2002) Feline clinical parasitology. Blackwell Science Company Iowa State University, USA.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Burgess H, Ruotsalo K, Peregrine AS, Hanselman B, Abrams-Ogg A (2008) Eucoleus aerophilus respiratory infection in a dog with Addison’s disease. Can Vet J 49:389 – 392.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Campbell BG, Little MD (1991) Identification of the eggs of a nematode (Eucoleus boehmi) from the nasal mucosa of North American dogs. J Am Vet Med Assoc 198:1520 – 1523.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Casiraghi M, Bazzocchi C, Mortarino M, Ottina E, Genchi C (2006) A simple molecular method for discriminating common filarial nematodes of dogs (Canis familiaris). Vet Parasitol 141:368 – 372.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Conboy G (2000) Canine angiostrongylosis (French Heartworm). In: Bowman DD (ed) Companion and exotic animal parasitology, International Veterinary Information Service, http://www.ivis.org/advances/Parasit_Bowman/conboy_angiostrongylosis/ivis.pdf.

  • Conboy G (2009) Helminth parasites of the canine and feline respiratory tract. Vet Clin North Am Small Anim Pract 39:1109 – 1126.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Di Cesare A, Meloni S, Milillo P, Castagna G, Otranto D, Paoletti B, Bartolini R, Avolio S, Traversa D (2010) Feline and canine cardio-pulmonary nematodes in central and southern Italy. In: Proceedings of the XXVI SoIPa Congress, Perugia, Italy, 2010.

  • Dodd K (1973) Angiostrongylus vasorum (Baillet, 1866) infestation in a greyhound kennels. Vet Rec 92:195 – 197.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Epe C, Coati N, Schnieder T (2004) Results of parasitological examinations of faecal samples from horses, ruminants, pigs, dogs, cats, hedgehogs and rabbits between 1998 and 2002. Dtsch Tierärztl Wochenschr 111:243 – 247.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Euzeby J (1981) Diagnostic expérimental des helminthoses animales. In: Helminthes parasites de l’appareil respiratoire, Livre 2. “Informations Techniques des Services Vétérinaires” edn, Paris, France.

  • Foster SF, Martin P, Allan GS, Barrs VR, Malik R (2004) Lower respiratory tract infections in cats: 21 cases (1995 – 2000). J Feline Med Surg 6:167 – 180.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Genchi C, Poglayen G, Kramer LH, Venco L, Agostini A (2001) Efficacy of moxidectin for the prevention of adult heartworm (Dirofilaria immitis) infection in dogs. Parassitologia 43:139 – 141.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Genchi C, Rinaldi L, Cascone C, Mortarino M, Cringoli G (2005) Is heartworm disease really spreading in Europe? Vet Parasitol 133:137 – 148.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Genchi C, Rinaldi L, Mortarino M, Genchi M, Cringoli G (2009) Climate and Dirofilaria infection in Europe. Vet Parasitol 163:286 – 292.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Glaser B, Gothe R (1998) Imported arthropod-borne parasites and parasitic arthropods in dogs. Species spectrum and epidemiologic analysis of the cases diagnosed in 1995/96. Tierärztl Prax Ausg K Kleintiere Heimtiere 26:40 – 46.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Guerrero J (2000) The Lungworms. University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, USA.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hamilton J (1963) Aelurostrongylus abstrusus Infestation of the cat. Vet Rec 75:417 – 422.

    Google Scholar 

  • Helm J, Gilleard JS, Jackson M, Redman E, Bell R (2009) A case of canine Angiostrongylus vasorum in Scotland confirmed by PCR and sequence analysis. J Small Anim Pract 50:255 – 259.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jefferies R, Morgan ER, Shaw SE (2009) A SYBR green realtime PCR assay for the detection of the nematode Angiostrongylus vasorum in definitive and intermediate hosts. Vet Parasitol 166:112 – 118.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lalosevic D, Lalosevic V, Klem I, Stanojev-Jovanovic D, Pozio E (2008) Pulmonary capillariasis miming bronchial carcinoma. Am J Trop Med Hyg 78:14 – 16.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Madeira de Carvalho L, Pereira da Fonseca L, Gomes L, Meireles J (2009) Lungworms in domestic and wild carnivores in Portugal: rare parasites or rarely diagnosed? In: Proceedings of the Bayer Angiostrongylosis Forum, 19th Annual Congress of the European College of Veterinary Internal Medicine – Companion Animals, Porto, Portugal, 2009.

  • McCall JW, Genchi C, Kramer LH, Guerrero J, Venco L (2008) Heartworm disease in animals and humans. Adv Parasitol 66:193 – 285.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Mircean V, Titilincu A, Vasile C (2010) Prevalence of endoparasites in household cat (Felis catus) populations from Transylvania (Romania) and association with risk factors. Vet Parasitol 171:163 – 166.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Miro G, Montoya A, Jimenez S, Frisuelos C, Mateo M, Fuentes I (2004) Prevalence of antibodies to Toxoplasma gondii and intestinal parasites in stray, farm and household cats in Spain. Vet Parasitol 126:249 – 255.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Morgan ER, Shaw SE (2010) Angiostrongylus vasorum infection in dogs: continuing spread and developments in diagnosis and treatment. J Small Anim Pract 51:616 – 621.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Morgan ER, Jefferies R, van Otterdijk L, McEniry RB, Allen F, Bakewell M, Shaw SE (2010) Angiostrongylus vasorum infection in dogs: presentation and risk factors. Vet Parasitol 173:255 – 261.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Nicolle AP, Chetboul V, Tessier-Vetzel D, Carlos Sampedrano C, Aletti E, Pouchelon JL (2006) Severe pulmonary arterial hypertension due to Angiostrongylosus vasorum in a dog. Can Vet J 47:792 – 795.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Otranto D, Capelli G, Genchi C (2009) Changing distribution patterns of canine vector borne diseases in Italy: leishmaniosis vs. dirofilariosis. Parasit Vectors 2:S2.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Papazahariadou M, Founta A, Papadopoulos E, Chliounakis S, Antoniadou-Sotiriadou K, Theodorides Y (2007) Gastrointestinal parasites of shepherd and hunting dogs in the Serres Prefecture, Northern Greece. Vet Parasitol 148:170 – 173.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Poli A, Arispici M, Mancianti F, Abramo F (1991) Pathology of naturally acquired Angiostrongylus vasorum infection in the red fox (Vulpes vulpes). Angew Parasitol 32:121 – 126.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ribeiro VM, Lima WS (2001) Larval production of cats infected and re-infected with Aelurostrongylus abstrusus (Nematoda: Protostrongylidae). Rev Méd Vét 152:815 – 829.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rishniw M, Barr SC, Simpson KW, Frongillo MF, Franz M, Dominguez Alpizar JL (2006) Discrimination between six species of canine microfilariae by a single polymerase chain reaction. Vet Parasitol 135:303 – 314.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rosen L, Ash LR, Wallace GD (1970) Life history of the canine lungworm Angiostrongylus vasorum (Baillet)Am J Vet Res 31:131 – 143.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Saeed I, Maddox-Hyttel C, Monrad J, Kapel CM (2006) Helminths of red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) in Denmark. Vet Parasitol 139:168 – 179.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sasanelli M, Paradies P, Otranto D, Lia RP, de Caprariis D (2008) Haemothorax associated with Angiostrongylus vasorum infection in a dog. J Small Anim Pract 49:417 – 420.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Schoning P, Dryden MW, Gabbert NH (1993) Identification of a nasal nematode (Eucoleus boehmi) in greyhounds. Vet Res Commun 17:277 – 281.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Scott D (1972) Current knowledge of Aelurostrongylus abstrusus in the cat. Cornell Vet 63:483 – 500.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sloss M, Kemp R, Zajac A (1994) Veterinary clinical parasitology. IA edn, Iowa State University Press, Ames, USA.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sommerfelt IE, Cardillo N, Lopez C, Ribicich M, Gallo C, Franco A (2006) Prevalence of Toxocara cati and other parasites in cats’ faeces collected from the open spaces of public institutions: Buenos Aires, Argentina. Vet Parasitol 140:296 – 301.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Staebler S, Ochs H, Steffen F, Naegeli F, Borel N, Sieber-Ruckstuhl N, Deplazes P (2005) Autochthonous infections with Angiostrongylus vasorum in dogs in Switzerland and Germany. Schweiz Arch Tierheilkd 147:121 – 127.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Stockdale PH (1970) The pathogenesis of the lesions elicited by Aelurostrongylus abstrusus during its prepatent period. Pathol Vet 7:102 – 115.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Svobodova Z, Svobodova V, Genchi C, Forejtek P (2006) The first report of autochthonous dirofilariosis in dogs in the Czech Republic. Helminthol 43:242 – 245.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Taubert A, Pantchev N, Vrhovec MG, Bauer C, Hermosilla C (2009) Lungworm infections (Angiostrongylus vasorum, Crenosoma vulpis, Aelurostrongylus abstrusus) in dogs and cats in Germany and Denmark in 2003 – 2007. Vet Parasitol 159:175 – 180.

  • Taylor M, Coop R, Wall R (2007) Veterinary Parasitology. 3rd edn, Blackwell, Oxford, UK.

  • Tebb AI, Johnson VS, Irwin PJ (2007) Angiostrongylus vasorum (French heartworm) in a dog imported into Australia. Aust Vet J 85:23 – 28.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Traversa D, Guglielmini C (2008) Feline aelurostrongylosis and canine angiostrongylosis: a challenging diagnosis for two emerging verminous pneumonia infections. Vet Parasitol 157:163 – 174.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Traversa D, Di Cesare A, Milillo P, Iorio R, Otranto D (2008a) Aelurostrongylus abstrusus in a feline colony from central Italy: clinical features, diagnostic procedures and molecular characterization. Parasitol Res 103:1191 – 1196.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Traversa D, Lia RP, Iorio R, Boari A, Paradies P, Capelli G, Avolio S, Otranto D (2008b) Diagnosis and risk factors of Aelurostrongylus abstrusus (Nematoda, Strongylida) infection in cats from Italy. Vet Parasitol 153:182 – 186.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Traversa D, Torbidone A, Malatesta D, Guglielmini C (2008c) Occurrence of fatal canine Angiostrongylus vasorum infection in Italy. Vet Parasitol 152:162 – 166.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Traversa D, Di Cesare A, Milillo P, Iorio R, Otranto D (2009) Infection by Eucoleus aerophilus in dogs and cats: is another extra-intestinal parasitic nematode of pets emerging in Italy? Res Vet Sci 87:270 – 272.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Traversa D, Aste G, Milillo P, Capelli G, Pampurini F, Tunesi C, Santori D, Paoletti B, Boari A (2010a) Autochthonous foci of canine and feline infections by Dirofilaria immitis and Dirofilaria repens in central Italy. Vet Parasitol 169:128 – 132.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Traversa D, Di Cesare A, Conboy G (2010b) Canine and feline cardiopulmonary parasitic nematodes in Europe: emerging and underestimated. Parasit Vectors 3:62.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • van Doorn DC, van de Sande AH, Nijsse ER, Eysker M, Ploeger HW (2009) Autochthonous Angiostrongylus vasorum infection in dogs in The Netherlands. Vet Parasitol 162:163 – 166.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Verzberger-Epshtein I, Markham RJ, Sheppard JA, Stryhn H, Whitney H, Conboy GA (2008) Serologic detection of Angiostrongylus vasorum infection in dogs. Vet Parasitol 151:53 – 60.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Comparative Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Teramo, Italy

    Angela Di Cesare, Giuseppe Castagna, Silvana Meloni, Piermarino Milillo & Donato Traversa

  2. Department of Veterinary Public Health and Animal Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Bari, Italy

    Stefania Latrofa & Domenico Otranto

Authors
  1. Angela Di Cesare
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Giuseppe Castagna
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Silvana Meloni
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Piermarino Milillo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Stefania Latrofa
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Domenico Otranto
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Donato Traversa
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Donato Traversa.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Di Cesare, A., Castagna, G., Meloni, S. et al. Canine and Feline Infections by Cardiopulmonary Nematodes in Central and Southern Italy. Parasitol Res 109 (Suppl 1), 87–96 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-011-2405-5

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-011-2405-5

Keywords

Search

Navigation