Epidemiological aspects of Aelurostrongylus abstrusus in Brazil

Abstract

Aelurostrongylus abstrusus (A. abstrusus) is the most common pulmonary parasite of domestic and wild felines. The animals are infected through ingestion of intermediate hosts, such as gastropod mollusks or paratenic hosts, such as rodents, amphibians and birds. In recent years, the growing number of cases has aroused interest in the scientific community and gained importance in veterinary practice. In Brazil, epidemiological studies of this parasitosis are still scarce. Therefore, the purpose of this literature review was to demonstrate the current epidemiological situation of the disease in the country.