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Di Cesare A, Veronesi F, Crisi PE, Colombo M, Morelli S, Vignoli M, Rigamonti G, Iorio R, Tielemans E, Beugnet F, Gamblin C, Traversa D. Clinical efficacy of a parasiticide formulation containing eprinomectin, esafoxolaner and praziquantel (NexGard® Combo) in the treatment of natural feline aelurostrongylosis and troglostrongylosis. Vet Parasitol 2024; 331:110271. [PMID: 39089177 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2024.110271] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2024] [Revised: 07/18/2024] [Accepted: 07/22/2024] [Indexed: 08/03/2024]
Abstract
The metastrongyloids Aelurostrongylus abstrusus and Troglostrongylus brevior are primary causes of feline clinical respiratory disease. The present field trial evaluated the clinical efficacy of a spot-on formulation containing eprinomectin, esafoxolaner and praziquantel (NexGard® Combo) administered per label recommendations to cats affected with aelurostrongylosis and/or troglostrongylosis. Overall, 36 naturally infected cats were randomly assigned to Group 1 (G1) or Group 2 (G2) of 18 cats each. The two groups included 6 cats with A. abstrusus, T. brevior and mixed infection, each. All cats completed the study. Cats in G1 were treated on study Days (SDs) 0 and 28±2. Cats in G2 served as negative control until SD 56±2 and were then treated on SD 56±2 and 84±2. On SD 0/-7, 28±2 and SD 56±2 all cats were subjected to parasitological (quali-quantitative Baermann) and clinical examinations (physical exams and thoracic X-rays). Hematology and biochemistry analyses were performed on SD 0/-7 and SD 56±2. On SD 84±2 quali-quantitative Baermann, clinical examination and thorax radiography were performed on all G2 cats and on two G1 cats that still had radiographic alterations on SD 56±2. On SD 112±2 all G2 cats were subjected to parasitological and clinical evaluations and one cat from G1 that still had radiographic signs at SD 84±2 was clinically and radiographically evaluated. Efficacy criteria were the reduction of larval shedding in faeces and the clinical response in terms of pathological and radiographic scores after treatment compared to the baseline. An efficacy of 100 % based on LPG reduction was recorded after one (20/24 cats) or two (all 24 cats) treatments in cats with single infection by A. abstrusus or T. brevior. For cats with mixed infections, larval shedding was stopped after one (11/12 cats) or two (all 12 cats) treatments. Statistically significant clinical and radiographic improvement was evident in all study cats after 2 treatments. The present data show that two monthly treatments with NexGard® Combo stopped larval shedding and led to a significant clinical recovery and a complete resolution of radiographic abnormalities in cats infected with A. abstrusus and/or T. brevior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angela Di Cesare
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Teramo, Teramo, Italy
| | - Fabrizia Veronesi
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | | | - Mariasole Colombo
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Teramo, Teramo, Italy
| | - Simone Morelli
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Teramo, Teramo, Italy
| | - Massimo Vignoli
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Teramo, Teramo, Italy
| | - Giulia Rigamonti
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Raffaella Iorio
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Teramo, Teramo, Italy
| | | | | | | | - Donato Traversa
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Teramo, Teramo, Italy.
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Raulf MK, Raue K, Rohdich N, Zschiesche E, Raue J, Merhof K, Volk HA, Schnyder M, Morelli S, Traversa D, Roepke RKA, Strube C. Efficacy of Bravecto ® Plus spot-on solution for cats (280 mg/ml fluralaner and 14 mg/ml moxidectin) in the prevention of feline Aelurostrongylus abstrusus infection evaluated in a multi-diagnostic approach. Parasit Vectors 2024; 17:193. [PMID: 38658960 PMCID: PMC11044604 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-024-06270-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2024] [Accepted: 04/03/2024] [Indexed: 04/26/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Aelurostrongylus abstrusus is one of the most important respiratory nematodes of felines. Infections may lead to respiratory clinical signs with varying severity or even death, emphasizing the need for preventive treatment of cats with outdoor access to circumvent patent infections. METHODS Therefore, the preventive efficacy of a spot-on formulation of 280 mg/ml fluralaner and 14 mg/ml moxidectin (Bravecto® Plus spot-on solution for cats, MSD) against A. abstrusus was evaluated in a negative controlled, randomized and partially blinded efficacy study with 28 purpose-bred cats in a non-terminal design. In three different treatment regimes, the minimum recommended dose of 40 mg fluralaner and 2.0 mg moxidectin/kg bodyweight (BW) was administered once at 12, 8 or 4 weeks (study group G1, G2 and G3, respectively) prior to experimental infection with 300 third-stage A. abstrusus larvae, while G4 served as placebo-treated control. RESULTS From 30 to 46 days post infection (dpi; SD 114 to 130), faeces were sampled to monitor first-stage larvae (L1) excretion for efficacy determination. Secondary efficacy criteria, including respiratory parameters, serological antibody levels and computed tomography (CT) findings, were assessed once before enrolment (SD -7 to -1) and before infection (SD 75 to 83). After infection, CT evaluation was performed once at 47-50 dpi (SD 131 to 134), and respiratory parameters and antibody levels were regularly assessed twice or once a week, respectively (1 up to 78 dpi, SD 85 up to 162). All animals in the control group excreted L1 by 33-37 dpi and remained positive throughout the study period from 41 to 46 dpi (SD 125 to 130). In the treatment groups, only one animal each of G1 and G2 excreted L1 at two consecutive days, and four cats of G1, two of G2 and three of G3 were positive on single occasions. While the geometric mean (GM) of the maximum number of excreted L1 per 5 g of faeces was 7380.89 in the control group (G4), GMs were significantly lower in the treatment groups with 1.63 in G1, 1.37 in G2 and 0.79 in G3. Thus, based on GMs, the reduction in excreted L1 exceeded 99.9% in all three treatment groups. Based on CT severity scores, all lungs of the animals of the control group showed severe pulmonary changes post infection, whereas lungs of the cats of the treatment groups were either unaltered (4 animals), mildly (11 animals), or moderately altered (5 animals). Moreover, seroconversion was observed in all cats of the control group, but not in those of the treatment groups. CONCLUSIONS The combination of diagnostic methods used in this non-terminal study yielded coherent and reliable results. A single administration of Bravecto® Plus spot-on solution for cats was well tolerated and effective in the prevention of aelurostrongylosis for at least 12 weeks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marie-Kristin Raulf
- Institute for Parasitology, Centre for Infection Medicine, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Buenteweg 17, 30559, Hanover, Germany
| | - Katharina Raue
- Institute for Parasitology, Centre for Infection Medicine, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Buenteweg 17, 30559, Hanover, Germany
| | - Nadja Rohdich
- MSD Animal Health Innovation GmbH, Schwabenheim, Germany
| | - Eva Zschiesche
- MSD Animal Health Innovation GmbH, Schwabenheim, Germany
| | - Jonathan Raue
- Department for Small Animal Medicine and Surgery, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, 30559, Hannover, Germany
| | - Kristina Merhof
- Department for Small Animal Medicine and Surgery, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, 30559, Hannover, Germany
| | - Holger A Volk
- Department for Small Animal Medicine and Surgery, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, 30559, Hannover, Germany
| | - Manuela Schnyder
- Institute of Parasitology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, 8057, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Simone Morelli
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Teramo, Teramo, Italy
| | - Donato Traversa
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Teramo, Teramo, Italy
| | | | - Christina Strube
- Institute for Parasitology, Centre for Infection Medicine, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Buenteweg 17, 30559, Hanover, Germany.
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Fagundes-Moreira R, Silveira E, Baggio-Souza V, Marques SMT, Vidor SB, de Jezus Castro SM, Spanamberg A, Henker LC, Pavarini SP, Soares JF, da Costa FVA. Comparative analysis of diagnostic methods and risk factors for Aelurostrongylus abstrusus infection in brazilian cats. J Helminthol 2023; 97:e91. [PMID: 38073416 DOI: 10.1017/s0022149x23000755] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2023]
Abstract
This study aimed to prospectively evaluate the risk factors of infection by Aelurostrongylus abstrusus in Brazilian cats with cough and/or radiographic changes, using as diagnostic tools the Baermann method (BM), polymerase chain reaction (PCR) of feces, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), and cytology. Forty-three cats that were presented with cough or lung radiographic abnormalities compatible with bronchoalveolar disease were included in the study. After clinical evaluation, feces samples were collected to investigate lungworm parasitism through BM and PCR. BALF was performed to provide samples for cytology, bacteriology, and fungal culture. Stool PCR was considered the gold standard for diagnosis tests, and the other methods were evaluated by their agreement. PCR presented 74% (32/43) of positivity for A. abstrusus, while in the BM, 41% (18/43) were positive. BM showed sensitivity of 56.25% and specificity of 100% when compared with PCR. No larva was found in the cytological evaluation of 21 BALF samples. Lungworm is an important cause of bronchopulmonary disease in domestic cats in Brazil and should be included as a differential diagnosis when a cat is presented with cough or radiographic abnormalities. BM is a sensitive, non-invasive, and cheap technique to diagnose the disease, but it is not as sensitive as PCR.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Fagundes-Moreira
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Veterinárias, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
- Laboratório de Protozoologia e Rickettsioses Vetoriais (ProtozooVet), Faculdade de Veterinária da Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul - UFRGS, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - E Silveira
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Veterinárias, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - V Baggio-Souza
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Veterinárias, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
- Laboratório de Protozoologia e Rickettsioses Vetoriais (ProtozooVet), Faculdade de Veterinária da Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul - UFRGS, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - S M T Marques
- Laboratório de Helmintologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - S B Vidor
- Laboratory of Teaching, Research, Extension and Production in Surgery and Veterinary Anesthesiology. Instituto Federal Farroupilha, Frederico Westphalen, Brazil
| | - S M de Jezus Castro
- Department of Statistics, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - A Spanamberg
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Veterinárias, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
- Laboratório de Micologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - L C Henker
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Veterinárias, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - S P Pavarini
- Setor de Patologia Veterinária, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - J F Soares
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Veterinárias, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
- Laboratório de Protozoologia e Rickettsioses Vetoriais (ProtozooVet), Faculdade de Veterinária da Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul - UFRGS, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - F V A da Costa
- Feline Medicine Service, Veterinary Clinics Hospital, Department of Animal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
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Raue K, Raue J, Hauck D, Söbbeler F, Morelli S, Traversa D, Schnyder M, Volk H, Strube C. Do All Roads Lead to Rome? The Potential of Different Approaches to Diagnose Aelurostrongylus abstrusus Infection in Cats. Pathogens 2021; 10:pathogens10050602. [PMID: 34069100 PMCID: PMC8157210 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens10050602] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2021] [Revised: 05/11/2021] [Accepted: 05/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
An infection with the cat lungworm, Aelurostrongylus abstrusus, can be subclinical, but it can also cause severe respiratory clinical signs. Larvae excretion, antibody levels, clinical assessment findings of the respiratory system and diagnostic imaging findings were recorded and compared for six cats with experimental aelurostrongylosis. In five cats, patency started 33-47 days post infection (pi), but two cats excreted larvae only in long intervals and low numbers. Positive ELISA results were observed in four cats with patent aelurostrongylosis, starting between five days before and 85 days after onset of patency. One seropositive cat remained copromicroscopically negative. Mild respiratory signs were observed in all cats examined. A computed tomographic (CT) examination of the lungs displayed distinct alterations, even in absence of evident clinical signs or when larvae excretion was low or negative. The thoracic radiograph evaluation correlated with the CT results, but CT was more distinctive. After anthelmintic treatment in the 25th week post infection, pulmonary imaging findings improved back to normal within 6-24 weeks. This study shows that a multifaceted approach, including diagnostic imaging, can provide a clearer diagnosis and monitoring of disease progression. Furthermore, a CT examination provides an alternative to post mortem examination and worm counts in anthelmintic efficacy studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katharina Raue
- Institute for Parasitology, Centre for Infection Medicine, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, 30559 Hannover, Germany; (K.R.); (D.H.)
| | - Jonathan Raue
- Department for Small Animal Medicine and Surgery, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, 30559 Hannover, Germany; (J.R.); (F.S.); (H.V.)
| | - Daniela Hauck
- Institute for Parasitology, Centre for Infection Medicine, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, 30559 Hannover, Germany; (K.R.); (D.H.)
| | - Franz Söbbeler
- Department for Small Animal Medicine and Surgery, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, 30559 Hannover, Germany; (J.R.); (F.S.); (H.V.)
| | - Simone Morelli
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Teramo, 64100 Teramo, Italy; (S.M.); (D.T.)
| | - Donato Traversa
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Teramo, 64100 Teramo, Italy; (S.M.); (D.T.)
| | - Manuela Schnyder
- Institute of Parasitology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, 8057 Zürich, Switzerland;
| | - Holger Volk
- Department for Small Animal Medicine and Surgery, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, 30559 Hannover, Germany; (J.R.); (F.S.); (H.V.)
| | - Christina Strube
- Institute for Parasitology, Centre for Infection Medicine, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, 30559 Hannover, Germany; (K.R.); (D.H.)
- Correspondence:
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Morelli S, Diakou A, Colombo M, Di Cesare A, Barlaam A, Dimzas D, Traversa D. Cat Respiratory Nematodes: Current Knowledge, Novel Data and Warranted Studies on Clinical Features, Treatment and Control. Pathogens 2021; 10:pathogens10040454. [PMID: 33920104 PMCID: PMC8069686 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens10040454] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2021] [Revised: 04/02/2021] [Accepted: 04/07/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The nematodes Aelurostrongylus abstrusus, Troglostrongylus brevior and Capillaria aerophila are the most important parasites inhabiting the airways of cats. They are receiving growing attention from academia, pharmaceutical companies and veterinarians, and are now considered a primary cause of respiratory diseases in feline clinical practice and parasitology. In the past few years, several studies have been conducted in both natural and experimental settings to increase knowledge, provide new insights and fill gaps on respiratory parasitoses of cats. Awareness and knowledge of clinical scenarios towards appropriate and timely diagnosis and prompt and efficacious treatment options have become a priority to investigate. At the same time, chemopreventative approaches have been evaluated to assess the geographical spreading of these parasites and the rise in the number of clinical cases in cat populations of different countries. Given the intense accumulation of novel data, this review presents and discusses the state of the art and the latest updates on the clinical features, treatment, and control of major respiratory parasitoses of cats. Moreover, food for thought is also provided with the aim of spurring on new studies in the near future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simone Morelli
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Teramo, 64100 Teramo, Italy; (S.M.); (M.C.); (A.D.C.)
| | - Anastasia Diakou
- School of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece; (A.D.); (D.D.)
| | - Mariasole Colombo
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Teramo, 64100 Teramo, Italy; (S.M.); (M.C.); (A.D.C.)
| | - Angela Di Cesare
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Teramo, 64100 Teramo, Italy; (S.M.); (M.C.); (A.D.C.)
| | - Alessandra Barlaam
- Department of Agriculture, Food, Natural Resources and Engineering (DAFNE), University of Foggia, Via Napoli 25, 71121 Foggia, Italy;
| | - Dimitris Dimzas
- School of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece; (A.D.); (D.D.)
| | - Donato Traversa
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Teramo, 64100 Teramo, Italy; (S.M.); (M.C.); (A.D.C.)
- Correspondence:
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Crisi PE, Di Cesare A, Traversa D, Vignoli M, Morelli S, Di Tommaso M, De Santis F, Pampurini F, Schaper R, Boari A. Controlled field study evaluating the clinical efficacy of a topical formulation containing emodepside and praziquantel in the treatment of natural cat aelurostrongylosis. Vet Rec 2019; 187:e34. [PMID: 31754046 PMCID: PMC7509393 DOI: 10.1136/vr.105528] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2019] [Revised: 08/01/2019] [Accepted: 10/05/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Aelurostrongylus abstrusus is the most important nematode affecting the respiratory tract of cats in terms of prevalence and clinical relevance. The aim of this randomised controlled field study was to confirm the efficacy of the spot-on containing emodepside/praziquantel (Profender, Bayer Animal Health) in the treatment of aelurostrongylosis. METHODS Seventeen cats with aelurostrongylosis and presenting with clinical and/or radiographic signs were included in the study. Eight cats received two biweekly doses of emodepside/praziquantel, while nine cats were allocated to a control group and received a rescue treatment at the end of the study. Clinical response was the primary outcome, while the secondary end point was the reduction of larval shedding in faeces. RESULTS Two weeks after the first application, the cats showed a significant, though partial, recovery of clinical signs with complete clinical and parasitological resolution. The resolution of inflammatory leucogram and a significant reduction of radiographic lesions were observed two weeks after the second treatment. Red blood cells and albumin values significantly increased after eight weeks from the second application, together with the complete regression of radiographic patterns. CONCLUSION Two applications of this spot-on solution two weeks apart assured complete cessation of larval shedding and led to a complete clinical, clinicopathological and radiographic recovery.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Angela Di Cesare
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Teramo, Teramo, Italy
| | - Donato Traversa
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Teramo, Teramo, Italy
| | - Massimo Vignoli
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Teramo, Teramo, Italy
| | - Simone Morelli
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Teramo, Teramo, Italy
| | | | | | | | | | - Andrea Boari
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Teramo, Teramo, Italy
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