Aelurostrongylus abstrusus: Feline lungworm

General Description: Small roundworms with males measuring up to 7.5mm and females 9.8mm long.

Life Cycle: Adults live in terminal bronchioles and alveolar ducts. The life cycle is indirect with snails and slugs as intermediate hosts. Infection can also be transmitted by transport hosts (mice, frogs, lizards, birds) which eat infected slugs and snails.

Location: Lungs.

Significance: Generally benign in cats but heavy infections can cause coughing, diarrhoea, emaciation and even death.

Diagnostic Information: Larvae in faeces.

Control: Treatment if necessary with anthelmintics. Prevention is not really practical due to widespread transport host distribution.