Lagochilascariosis in Brazil: A systematic search and descriptive review, and the first report of Lagochilascaris minor Leiper, 1909 infection in a domestic cat from Santa Catarina, southern Brazil.

Lagochilascariosis is a rare and neglected zoonotic helminthiasis caused by Lagochilascaris spp., in which domestic and wild carnivores and humans act as definitive hosts. Among the six described species, Lagochilascaris minor is the only one known to infect humans. Clinically, the disease is characterized by nodular lesions, mainly in the cervical region, often associated with purulent exudate, and it occurs throughout the Neotropical region. This study aimed to conduct a systematic review of lagochilascariosis in animals and humans and to report the first case of L. minor infection in a domestic cat from Santa Catarina, southern Brazil. Data from the last 20 years were retrieved from MEDLINE (PubMed), Scopus, SciELO, and CABI, revealing that most reports originated from South America, particularly Brazil. The case involved a male cat rescued in Lages, Santa Catarina, presenting multiple cervical nodules with fistulization and drainage of purulent exudate containing adult parasites. Diagnosis was established by morphological, molecular and coproparasitological analyses, confirming L. minor. This report expands the known geographic distribution of the parasite and highlights the importance of including lagochilascariosis in the differential diagnosis of chronic nodular lesions in cats, reinforcing its relevance to animal and public health.