linguatula serrata nymph in a cat

linguatula serrata is a tongue-shaped parasite that infects carnivores or insectivorous reptile as final host and herbivores as intermediate ones. during necropsy of a 1.5-year-old female stray cat, a few white and fine nodules were observed on the diaphragmatic lobes of the lung. in histopathological examination, the nodules contained a turned spinosum parasite with cuticular spines and in parasitological examination of digested suspension, nymph of l. serrata with characteristic features was seen. this is the first confirmed infestation in a cat with nymph of l. serrata in iran.