Concurrent Aelurostrongylus abstrusus infection and salmonellosis in a kitten

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 pneumoth orax and nodular alveolar disease. Aelurostrongylus abstrusus larvae and in tracellular Gram-negative bacilli were seen in bronchial wash fluid and ple ural exudate, and Salmonella Typhimurium was cultured from both fluids but not from faeces, Therapy included unilateral closed-tube thoracostomy, enro floxacin and fenbendazole. Historical signs were compatible with gastrointe stinal 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 Typhim urium. Alternatively, the development of lungworm infection in the cat may have activated quiescent S Typhimurium pulmonary granulomata from bacteraem ia secondary to gastro-intestinal salmonellosis. Two years after diagnosis the cat was reportedly in good health.