Concurrent Aelurostrongylus abstrusus infection and salmonellosis in a kitten |
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| Authors: | VR BARRS GR SWINNEY P MARTIN RG NICOLL |
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| Institution: | Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Sydney, New South Wales. |
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| Abstract: | A 14-week-old kitten had a history of vomiting, diarrhoea and pyrexia, all of which resolved without treatment. Three weeks later the kitten developed a violent non-productive dry cough. Thoracic radiographs revealed pneumothorax and nodular alveolar disease. Aelurostrongylus abstrusus larvae and intracellular Gram-negative bacilli were seen in bronchial wash fluid and pleural exudate, and Salmonella Typhimurium was cultured from both fluids but not from faeces. Therapy included unilateral closed-tube thoracostomy, enrofloxacin and fenbendazole. Historical signs were compatible with gastrointestinal salmonellosis and secondary broncho-pneumonia. Seeding of the lungs with salmonellae may have occurred as a result of migration of A abstrusus from a gastro-intestinal tract residually infected or colonised by S Typhimurium. Alternatively, the development of lungworm infection in the cat may have activated quiescent S Typhimurium pulmonary granulomata from bacteraemia secondary to gastro-intestinal salmonellosis. Two years after diagnosis the cat was reportedly in good health. |
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| Keywords: | Cat Aelurostrongylus abstrusus fenbendazole Salmonella Typhimurium |
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