Molecular identification of Aelurostrongylus abstrusus, Troglostrongylus brevior and Angiostrongylus chabaudi in domestic cats from the Azores Islands (Portugal)

Domestic cats can be infected with various cardiopulmonary metastrongylids. Although A. abstrusus is widely distributed globally, data regarding the occurrence of T. brevior and A. chaubaudi in Portugal are currently nonexistent. This study aimed to evaluate the presence of cardiopulmonary parasite species in domestic cats from the Azores, Portugal, using copromicroscopy and molecular methods. A total of 57 domestic cats were included in this study, and fecal samples were previously analyzed using the Baermann technique. The detected larvae were collected, morphologically identified, and subsequently confirmed through molecular analysis using triplex semi-nested PCR. 57 domestic cats tested positive for cardiopulmonary parasites by copromicroscopy. Triplex semi-nested PCR analysis confirmed the presence of A. abstrusus (326 bp), T. brevior (520 bp) and A. chabaudi (200 bp) in the Azores archipelago. The present study is the first to molecularly confirm A. abstrusus, T. brevior, and A. chabaudi in domestic cats from Portugal and the first molecular report of domestic cats from the Azores Islands. Future studies are recommended to further investigate the distribution and epidemiology of these parasites in felines.