Parasitic Disease

Question 1

Evidence for coproantigen test for parasitic disease in dogs and cats

Answer 1

Parasitology research 2023 - comparison to 2x faecal float methods
Antigen detection always preceded positive float. Some positive in the absence of eggs in faeces. No cross reactions b/w species
Demonstrated efficacy in detecting common feline roundworm and canine Uncinaria infections

Vet Diagnostic studies in 2017 - earlier detection of whipworm in experimentally infected dogs,
Some ‘false negatives may be the result of misidentification of faecal parasite eggs due to coprophagy (ie worms from different species).

Question 2

Parasitic cause of gastritis

Answer 2

Physaloptera
Dx with PCR potentially but can be difficult due to low burden and unable to detect eggs in float.
Tx trial with FBz or Pyrantel, may require longer courses of Tx

Ollulanus
Only present in vomitus, not shed in faeces
FBZ to treat

Spirocerca lupi
penetrate gastric wall and enter arteries to mature in thoracic aorta then oesophagus -> granulomatous nodule formation and regurgitation/signs of reflux
Eggs can be detected in faeces
Tx doramectin

Question 3

SI parasites in dogs/cats and their lifecycles

Answer 3

Roundworms - Toxocara
Transplacental and transmammary infection occur. larvae enter blood from SI then migrate through lungs to be coughed up and swallowed as adults. Can see aberrant migrations causing disease

Hookworms - Ancylostoma, Uncinaria
Faecal oral, cutaneous penetration or perinatal transmission
Larvae also penetrate SI and migrate to lungs before being coughed up and swallowed as adults that live in SI. Can be dormant in tissues then emerge during pregnancy/lactation

Tapeworms - Diplydium caninum
Taenia spp from ingestion of contaminated raw meat can cause hydatid cysts.

Question 4

Potential pulmonary parasites

Answer 4

Migration of roundworm or hookworm larvae
cause indirect verminous pneumonia

Feline HARD

Aelurostrongylus abstrusus (lungworm in cats)
can cause bronchopulmonary disease in young/immunocompromised cats. important DDx for eosinophilic bronchitis
Dx with BALF or Baermann (though larvae in faeces is intermittent and may be killed by some cat litters)

Oslerus osleri - lives in large airways and causes granulomatous inflammation. Dx by faecal baermann or BAL.

Filaroides - found in alveolar space and cause granulomatous inflammation

Angiostrongylus vasorum (dogs, not in Aus) - transmitted by ingestion of mullosc intermediate host.
Dx on faecal baermann
Requires longer course of FBZ 10-14d