Concurrent Aelurostrongylus abstrusus infection and salmonellosis in a kitten

Aust Vet J. 1999 Apr;77(4):229-32. doi: 10.1111/j.1751-0813.1999.tb11707.x.

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.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antinematodal Agents / therapeutic use
  • Bronchi / microbiology
  • Bronchi / parasitology
  • Bronchopneumonia / diagnosis
  • Bronchopneumonia / therapy
  • Bronchopneumonia / veterinary*
  • Cat Diseases* / diagnosis
  • Cat Diseases* / diagnostic imaging
  • Cat Diseases* / therapy
  • Cats
  • Fenbendazole / therapeutic use
  • Gastrointestinal Diseases / diagnosis
  • Gastrointestinal Diseases / therapy
  • Gastrointestinal Diseases / veterinary*
  • Male
  • Metastrongyloidea / isolation & purification*
  • Radiography
  • Salmonella Infections, Animal / complications*
  • Salmonella Infections, Animal / diagnosis
  • Salmonella Infections, Animal / therapy
  • Salmonella typhimurium / isolation & purification*
  • Strongylida Infections / complications
  • Strongylida Infections / diagnosis
  • Strongylida Infections / therapy
  • Strongylida Infections / veterinary*

Substances

  • Antinematodal Agents
  • Fenbendazole