Abbreviata gemina (von Linstow, 1899)
Abbreviatagemina was originally described from the stomach and small intestine of a domestic cat in Egypt under the name of Physalopteragemina by von Linstow. Other potential synonyms are Physaloptera caucasica Linstow, 1902, and Abbreviata mordens (Leiper, 1908). Specimens of Abbreviata are very similar to members of the genus Physaloptera but tend to lack the cuticular collarette characteristic of that genus. The males of this species tend to be 1 cm long; the females 2 cm long. The eggs are thick shelled, ellipsoidal, larvated when passed, and 52 µm by 32 µm in length and width. The life cycle of a related species found in primates (Abbreviatacaucasica) involves German cockroaches, Blatellagermanica, and grasshoppers, Schistocercagregaria, as intermediate hosts (Poiner and Quentin, 1972). There have been no reports on clinical presentation or treatment of these infections in cats. Because the life cycle can probably utilize cockroaches, infections could theoretically become a problem in unclean catteries.
REFERENCES:
Gedoelst L. 1911. Synopsis de parasitologie de l’homme et des animaux domestiques. 332 pages. Lierre et Bruxelles.
Linstow OFB. 1899. Nematoden aus der Berliner zoologischen Sammlung. Mitt Zool Samml Mus Naturk Berl 1:3-28, plates 1-6.
Morgan BB. 1945. The nematode genus Abbreviata (Travasos, 1920) Schulz, 1927. Am Midl Nat 34:485-490.
Poinar GO, Quentin JC. 1972. The development of Abbreviatacaucasica (von Linstow) (Spirurida: Physalopteridae) in an intermediate host. J Parasitol 58:23-28.
Travassos L. 1920. Contribuites para o conhecimento da fauna helmintolojica brazileira. X. Sobre es especies do genero Turgida. Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz 12:73-77.