Feline aelurostrongylosis: Epidemiological survey in central and southern Italy

Aelurostrongylus abstrusus (Nematoda, Strongylida) in cats and associated risk factors have been investigated in central (site A) and southern (site B) Italy by coprological flotations with sugar and zinc sulphate solutions and a Baermann technique. One hundred and sixty-two (Site A) and sixty-five (Site B) faecal samples were processed and risk factors were related to infection by binary logistic multiple-regression models. The presence of A. abstrusus was used as the dependent variable and the epidemiological data as independent variables. Twenty-eight (17.3%) and 12 (18.5%) cats were positive for A. obstrusus in site A and B, respectively, both using the Baermann and flotation with zinc sulfate solution methods. Six (site A) and three (site B) of the infected cats were negative for A. abstrusus when faeces were subjected to the sugar solution flotation. Stray and free-ranging, young cats and the presence of respiratory symptoms were statistically correlated to the infection. This study suggest that A. abstrusus is spread in Italy and that the infection should be included in the differential diagnosis of feline respiratory diseases.[...