Angiostrongylus cantonensis: A species of parasitic nematodes distributed throughout the Pacific islands that infests the lungs of domestic rats. Human infection, caused by consumption of raw slugs and land snails, results in eosinophilic meningitis.Angiostrongylus: A genus of parasitic nematodes of the superfamily METASTRONGYLOIDEA. Two species, ANGIOSTRONGYLUS CANTONENSIS and A. vasorum, infest the lungs of rats and dogs, respectively. A. cantonensis is transmissible to man where it causes frequently fatal infection of the central nervous system.Strongylida Infections: Infections with nematodes of the order STRONGYLIDA.Meningitis: Inflammation of the coverings of the brain and/or spinal cord, which consist of the PIA MATER; ARACHNOID; and DURA MATER. Infections (viral, bacterial, and fungal) are the most common causes of this condition, but subarachnoid hemorrhage (HEMORRHAGES, SUBARACHNOID), chemical irritation (chemical MENINGITIS), granulomatous conditions, neoplastic conditions (CARCINOMATOUS MENINGITIS), and other inflammatory conditions may produce this syndrome. (From Joynt, Clinical Neurology, 1994, Ch24, p6)Metastrongyloidea: A superfamily of nematodes of the order STRONGYLIDA. Characteristics include a fluid-filled outer layer of cuticle and a reduced mouth and bursa.Snails: Marine, freshwater, or terrestrial mollusks of the class Gastropoda. Most have an enclosing spiral shell, and several genera harbor parasites pathogenic to man.Eosinophilia: Abnormal increase of EOSINOPHILS in the blood, tissues or organs.Food Parasitology: The presence of parasites in food and food products. For the presence of bacteria, viruses, and fungi in food, FOOD MICROBIOLOGY is available.Meningoencephalitis: An inflammatory process involving the brain (ENCEPHALITIS) and meninges (MENINGITIS), most often produced by pathogenic organisms which invade the central nervous system, and occasionally by toxins, autoimmune disorders, and other conditions.Gastropoda: A class in the phylum MOLLUSCA comprised of SNAILS and slugs. The former have coiled external shells and the latter usually lack shells.Central Nervous System Helminthiasis: Infections of the BRAIN; SPINAL CORD; or MENINGES caused by HELMINTHS (parasitic worms).Animal Distribution: A process by which animals in various forms and stages of development are physically distributed through time and space.DNA, Helminth: Deoxyribonucleic acid that makes up the genetic material of helminths.Gnathostoma: A genus of parasitic nematodes that occurs in mammals including man. Infection in humans is either by larvae penetrating the skin or by ingestion of uncooked fish.Nematode Infections: Infections by nematodes, general or unspecified.Disease Vectors: Invertebrates or non-human vertebrates which transmit infective organisms from one host to another.Hawaii: A group of islands in Polynesia, in the north central Pacific Ocean, comprising eight major and 114 minor islands, largely volcanic and coral. Its capital is Honolulu. It was first reached by Polynesians about 500 A.D. It was discovered and named the Sandwich Islands in 1778 by Captain Cook. The islands were united under the rule of King Kamehameha 1795-1819 and requested annexation to the United States in 1893 when a provisional government was set up. Hawaii was established as a territory in 1900 and admitted as a state in 1959. The name is from the Polynesian Owhyhii, place of the gods, with reference to the two volcanoes Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa, regarded as the abode of the gods. (From Webster's New Geographical Dictionary, 1988, p493 & Room, Brewer's Dictionary of Names, 1992, p2330)Strongyloidea: A superfamily of strongyles or roundworms which are parasites in the intestinal tract of equines, pigs, rodents, and primates (including man). It includes the genera Cyasthostomum, Ransomus, Globocephalus, OESOPHAGOSTOMUM, and STRONGYLUS.Jamaica: An island in the Greater Antilles in the West Indies. Its capital is Kingston. It was discovered in 1494 by Columbus and was a Spanish colony 1509-1655 until captured by the English. Its flourishing slave trade was abolished in the 19th century. It was a British colony 1655-1958 and a territory of the West Indies Federation 1958-62. It achieved full independence in 1962. The name is from the Arawak Xaymaca, rich in springs or land of springs. (From Webster's New Geographical Dictionary, 1988, p564 & Room, Brewer's Dictionary of Names, 1992, p267)Larva: Wormlike or grublike stage, following the egg in the life cycle of insects, worms, and other metamorphosing animals.Life Cycle Stages: The continuous sequence of changes undergone by living organisms during the post-embryonic developmental process, such as metamorphosis in insects and amphibians. This includes the developmental stages of apicomplexans such as the malarial parasite, PLASMODIUM FALCIPARUM.Antibodies, Helminth: Immunoglobulins produced in a response to HELMINTH ANTIGENS.Antigens, Helminth: Any part or derivative of a helminth that elicits an immune reaction. The most commonly seen helminth antigens are those of the schistosomes.Thailand: Formerly known as Siam, this is a Southeast Asian nation at the center of the Indochina peninsula. Bangkok is the capital city.Hebrides: A group of islands in the Atlantic Ocean west of Scotland, comprising the Outer Hebrides and the Inner Hebrides.Micronesia: The collective name for islands of the Pacific Ocean east of the Philippines, including the Mariana, PALAU, Caroline, Marshall, and Kiribati Islands. (From Webster's New Geographical Dictionary, 1988, p761 & Room, Brewer's Dictionary of Names, 1992, p350)Vanuatu: A republic consisting of an island group in Melanesia, in the southwest Pacific Ocean. Its capital is Port-Vila. It was called New Hebrides until 1980. It was discovered in 1606 by the Portuguese, forgotten for 160 years, then visited by Bougainville in 1768 and Captain Cook in 1774. It was under joint British and French administration from 1906 until it became independent in 1980 under the name of Vanuatu. The name is native, meaning our land. (From Webster's New Geographical Dictionary, 1988, p833 & Room, Brewer's Dictionary of Names, 1992, p570)Polynesia: The collective name for the islands of the central Pacific Ocean, including the Austral Islands, Cook Islands, Easter Island, HAWAII; NEW ZEALAND; Phoenix Islands, PITCAIRN ISLAND; SAMOA; TONGA; Tuamotu Archipelago, Wake Island, and Wallis and Futuna Islands. Polynesians are of the Caucasoid race, but many are of mixed origin. Polynesia is from the Greek poly, many + nesos, island, with reference to the many islands in the group. (From Webster's New Geographical Dictionary, 1988, p966 & Room, Brewer's Dictionary of Names, 1992, p426)Photophobia: Abnormal sensitivity to light. This may occur as a manifestation of EYE DISEASES; MIGRAINE; SUBARACHNOID HEMORRHAGE; MENINGITIS; and other disorders. Photophobia may also occur in association with DEPRESSION and other MENTAL DISORDERS.TaiwanMeninges: The three membranes that cover the BRAIN and the SPINAL CORD. They are the dura mater, the arachnoid, and the pia mater.Meningitis, Bacterial: Bacterial infections of the leptomeninges and subarachnoid space, frequently involving the cerebral cortex, cranial nerves, cerebral blood vessels, spinal cord, and nerve roots.Meningitis, Pneumococcal: An acute purulent infection of the meninges and subarachnoid space caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae, most prevalent in children and adults over the age of 60. This illness may be associated with OTITIS MEDIA; MASTOIDITIS; SINUSITIS; RESPIRATORY TRACT INFECTIONS; sickle cell disease (ANEMIA, SICKLE CELL); skull fractures; and other disorders. Clinical manifestations include FEVER; HEADACHE; neck stiffness; and somnolence followed by SEIZURES; focal neurologic deficits (notably DEAFNESS); and COMA. (From Miller et al., Merritt's Textbook of Neurology, 9th ed, p111)Meningitis, Aseptic: A syndrome characterized by headache, neck stiffness, low grade fever, and CSF lymphocytic pleocytosis in the absence of an acute bacterial pathogen. Viral meningitis is the most frequent cause although MYCOPLASMA INFECTIONS; RICKETTSIA INFECTIONS; diagnostic or therapeutic procedures; NEOPLASTIC PROCESSES; septic perimeningeal foci; and other conditions may result in this syndrome. (From Adams et al., Principles of Neurology, 6th ed, p745)Meningitis, Viral: Viral infections of the leptomeninges and subarachnoid space. TOGAVIRIDAE INFECTIONS; FLAVIVIRIDAE INFECTIONS; RUBELLA; BUNYAVIRIDAE INFECTIONS; ORBIVIRUS infections; PICORNAVIRIDAE INFECTIONS; ORTHOMYXOVIRIDAE INFECTIONS; RHABDOVIRIDAE INFECTIONS; ARENAVIRIDAE INFECTIONS; HERPESVIRIDAE INFECTIONS; ADENOVIRIDAE INFECTIONS; JC VIRUS infections; and RETROVIRIDAE INFECTIONS may cause this form of meningitis. Clinical manifestations include fever, headache, neck pain, vomiting, PHOTOPHOBIA, and signs of meningeal irritation. (From Joynt, Clinical Neurology, 1996, Ch26, pp1-3)Central Nervous System: The main information-processing organs of the nervous system, consisting of the brain, spinal cord, and meninges.Trombiculidae: Family of MITES in the superfamily Trombiculoidea, suborder Prostigmata, which attack humans and other vertebrates, causing DERMATITIS and severe allergic reactions. Chiggers, red bugs, and harvest mites commonly refer to the larval stage of Trombiculid mites, the only parasitic stage of the mite's life cycle.Phthiraptera: An order of small, wingless parasitic insects, commonly known as lice. The suborders include ANOPLURA (sucking lice); AMBLYCERA; ISCHNOCERA; and Rhynchophthirina (elephant and warthog lice).Esocidae: A family of freshwater fish of the order ESOCIFORMES, comprising the pikes, inhabiting the waters of the Northern Hemisphere. There is one genus, Esox, with five species: northern pike, grass pickerel, chain pickerel, muskellunge, and Amur pike.Arguloida: An order of CRUSTACEA that are parasitic on freshwater fish.Acari: A large, subclass of arachnids comprising the MITES and TICKS, including parasites of plants, animals, and humans, as well as several important disease vectors.Mites: Any arthropod of the subclass ACARI except the TICKS. They are minute animals related to the spiders, usually having transparent or semitransparent bodies. They may be parasitic on humans and domestic animals, producing various irritations of the skin (MITE INFESTATIONS). Many mite species are important to human and veterinary medicine as both parasite and vector. Mites also infest plants.Argasidae: A family of softbacked TICKS, in the subclass ACARI. Genera include ARGAS and ORNITHODOROS among others.Reference Books, Medical: Books in the field of medicine intended primarily for consultation.Reference Books: Books designed by the arrangement and treatment of their subject matter to be consulted for definite terms of information rather than to be read consecutively. Reference books include DICTIONARIES; ENCYCLOPEDIAS; ATLASES; etc. (From the ALA Glossary of Library and Information Science, 1983)Veterinary Medicine: The medical science concerned with the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of diseases in animals.Nematoda: A class of unsegmented helminths with fundamental bilateral symmetry and secondary triradiate symmetry of the oral and esophageal structures. Many species are parasites.BooksPublic Sector: The area of a nation's economy that is tax-supported and under government control.Education, Veterinary: Use for general articles concerning veterinary medical education.Dictyocaulus Infections: Infection with nematodes of the genus DICTYOCAULUS. In deer, cattle, sheep, and horses the bronchi are the site of infestation.Dictyocaulus: Nematodes parasitic in the bronchi of herbivorous animals.
Angiostrongylus cantonensis eosinophilic meningitis. (1/105)
In the past 50 years, Angiostrongylus cantonensis, the most common cause of eosinophilic meningitis, has spread from Southeast Asia to the South Pacific, Africa, India, the Caribbean, and recently, to Australia and North America, mainly carried by cargo ship rats. Humans are accidental, "dead-end" hosts infected by eating larvae from snails, slugs, or contaminated, uncooked vegetables. These larvae migrate to the brain, spinal cord, and nerve roots, causing eosinophilia in both spinal fluid and peripheral blood. Infected patients present with severe headache, vomiting, paresthesias, weakness, and occasionally visual disturbances and extraocular muscular paralysis. Most patients have a full recovery; however, heavy infections can lead to chronic, disabling disease and even death. There is no proven treatment for this disease. In the authors' experience, corticosteroids have been helpful in severe cases to relieve intracranial pressure as well as neurologic symptoms due to inflammatory responses to migrating and eventually dying worms. (+info)Jejunal perforation caused by abdominal angiostrongyliasis. (2/105)
The authors describe a case of abdominal angiostrongyliasis in an adult patient presenting acute abdominal pain caused by jejunal perforation. The case was unusual, as this affliction habitually involves the terminal ileum, appendix, cecum or ascending colon. The disease is caused by the nematode Angiostrongylus costaricensis, whose definitive hosts are forest rodents while snails and slugs are its intermediate hosts. Infection in humans is accidental and occurs via the ingestion of snail or slug mucoid secretions found on vegetables, or by direct contact with the mucus. Abdominal angiostrongyliasis is clinically characterized by prolonged fever, anorexia, abdominal pain in the right-lower quadrant, and peripheral blood eosinophilia. Although usually of a benign nature, its course may evolve to more complicated forms such as intestinal obstruction or perforation likely to require a surgical approach. Currently, no efficient medication for the treatment of abdominal angiostrongyliasis is known to be available. In this study, the authors provide a review on the subject, considering its etiopathogeny, clinical picture, diagnosis and treatment. (+info)MR findings of eosinophilic meningoencephalitis attributed to Angiostrongylus cantonensis. (3/105)
Eosinophilic meningoencephalitis is prevalent and widely distributed in Thailand, especially in the northeastern and central parts of the country. Angiostrongylus cantonensis is one of the causative agents of fatal eosinophilic meningoencephalitis. The nematodes produce extensive tissue damage by moving through the brain and inducing an inflammatory reaction. We report the clinical features and the findings revealed by MR imaging and MR spectroscopy in six patients with eosinophilic meningoencephalitis. The clinical presentation included severe headache, clouded consciousness, and meningeal irritation. Abnormal findings on MR images included prominence of the Virchow-Robin spaces, subcortical enhancing lesions, and abnormal high T2 signal lesions in the periventricular regions. Proton brain MR spectroscopy was performed in three patients and was abnormal in one severe case, showing decreased choline in a lesion. Small hemorrhagic tracts were found in one case. Lesions thought to be due to microcavities and migratory tracts were found in only one case. We believe the MR imaging and MR spectroscopy findings are of diagnostic value and helpful in understanding the pathogenetic mechanisms of the disease. (+info)Eosinophilic meningitis due to Angiostrongylus cantonensis in a returned traveler: case report and review of the literature. (4/105)
Angiostrongylus cantonensis, the rat lungworm, is the principal cause of eosinophilic meningitis worldwide, and the increase in world travel and shipborne dispersal of infected rat vectors has extended this parasite to regions outside of its traditional geographic boundaries. We report a case of eosinophilic meningitis due to A. cantonensis in a patient who recently returned from a trip in the Pacific. (+info)An outbreak of eosinophilic meningitis caused by Angiostrongylus cantonensis in travelers returning from the Caribbean. (5/105)
BACKGROUND: Outbreaks of eosinophilic meningitis caused by the roundworm Angiostrongylus cantonensis are rarely reported, even in regions of endemic infection such as Southeast Asia and the Pacific Basin. We report an outbreak of A. cantonensis meningitis among travelers returning from the Caribbean. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective cohort study among 23 young adults who had traveled to Jamaica. We used a clinical definition of eosinophilic meningitis that included headache that began within 35 days after the trip plus at least one of the following: neck pain, nuchal rigidity, altered cutaneous sensations, photophobia, or visual disturbances. RESULTS: Twelve travelers met the case definition for eosinophilic meningitis. The symptoms began a median of 11 days (range, 6 to 31) after their return to the United States. Eosinophilia was eventually documented in all nine patients who were hospitalized, although on initial evaluation, it was present in the peripheral blood of only four of the nine (44 percent) and in the cerebrospinal fluid of five (56 percent). Repeated lumbar punctures and corticosteroid therapy led to improvement in symptoms in two of three patients with severe headache, and intracranial pressure decreased during corticosteroid therapy in all three. Consumption of one meal (P=0.001) and of a Caesar salad at that meal (P=0.007) were strongly associated with eosinophilic meningitis. Antibodies against an A. cantonensis--specific 31-kD antigen were detected in convalescent-phase serum samples from 11 patients. CONCLUSIONS: Among travelers at risk, the presence of headache, elevated intracranial pressure, and pleocytosis, with or without eosinophilia, particularly in association with paresthesias or hyperesthesias, should alert clinicians to the possibility of A. cantonensis infection. (+info)Enzootic Angiostrongylus cantonensis in rats and snails after an outbreak of human eosinophilic meningitis, Jamaica. (6/105)
After an outbreak in 2000 of eosinophilic meningitis in tourists to Jamaica, we looked for Angiostrongylus cantonensis in rats and snails on the island. Overall, 22% (24/109) of rats harbored adult worms, and 8% (4/48) of snails harbored A. cantonensis larvae. This report is the first of enzootic A. cantonensis infection in Jamaica, providing evidence that this parasite is likely to cause human cases of eosinophilic meningitis. (+info)Immunoblot evaluation of the specificity of the 29-kDa antigen from young adult female worms Angiostrongylus cantonensis for immunodiagnosis of human angiostrongyliasis. (7/105)
The antigenic components of Angiostrongylus cantonensis young adult female worm somatic extract (FSE) were revealed by sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and immunoblotting. The sera tested were from patients with proven angiostrongyliasis, other parasitic diseases, and healthy adults. Both the sera and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) were tested from patients with clinical angiostrongyliasis. The CSF from patients with other neurological diseases were also included. Using SDS-PAGE, we found that the FSE comprised more than 30 polypeptides. Immunoblot analysis revealed at least 12 or 13 antigenic bands in patients with proven or clinical angiostrongyliasis, respectively. The patterns of reactivity recognized by the serum and CSF antibodies against FSE were similar. These antigenic components had molecular masses ranging from less than 14.4 to more than 94 kDa. The prominent antigenic band of 29-kDa might serve as a reliable marker for the diagnosis of angiostrongyliasis. The sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values of immunoblot analysis in this antigenic band were 55.6%, 99.4%, 83.3% and 97.4%, respectively. (+info)A clinical study of eosinophilic meningoencephalitis caused by angiostrongyliasis. (8/105)
OBJECTIVE: To improve the clinician's awareness of angiostrongyliasis. METHODS: The clinical and laboratory data as well as the epidemiological information concerning 18 patients with eosinophilic meningoencephalitis caused by Angiostrongylus cantonensis were analyzed. RESULTS: All patients had a history of eating raw fresh water snail (Ampularium canaliculatus) before the onset of the disease. Incubation period ranged from 1 to 25 days. The major symptoms of the patients had severe headache and pain in the trunk and limbs. Increased eosinophlic count in peripheral blood and cerebrospinal fluid was noted. Tested by enzyme-linked immunoadsorbent assay (ELISA), sera were specifically IgG-antibody positive against Angiostrougylus cantonensis antigen, but were negative against other parasitic antigens such as Paragonimus westermani, Cysticerus, Cellulosae hominis, Echinococcus granulosus and Trichinella spiralis. Abnormal spotty signals were found in 2 cases with brain magnetic resonance imaging. Electroencephalogram (EEG) showed slow alpha rhythm. All the patients were effectively treated with combined administration of albendazole and dexamethazone. CONCLUSIONS: Angiostrongyliasis is one of the common causes leading to eosinophilic meningoencephalitis. To our knowledge, Wenzhou is the first small outbreak site of angiostrongyliasis discovered in Chinese mainland. (+info)Parasitic nematodeLungwormLarvaeCerebrospinal fluidMeningitis causedDiagnosisRoundwormHumansAdult formAntibodiesSnailsIntestinalWormPresentFoodInfectionNematodaCostaricensisNematode Angiostrongylus cantonensis1935Eosinophilic meningitis duePrevalenceLungworm diseaseKnown as Angiostrongylus cantonensisRecord of Angiostrongylus cantonensisNematodesPLOS Neglected TropicalSpeciesHostsAetiological agent of human eosinophilicGenusChenSnail2017AchatinaRodentsRRNA geneParasitesAbdominal2002DiagnosisAntigenSerologically confirmedAdultPolymerase
- Angiostrongylus cantonensis is a parasitic nematode (roundworm) that causes angiostrongyliasis , the most common cause of eosinophilic meningitis in Southeast Asia and the Pacific Basin . (wikipedia.org)
- It is caused by a parasitic nematode (roundworm parasite) called Angiostrongylus cantonensis . (hawaii.gov)
- Angiostrongyliasis is a parasitic infection caused by a rat lungworm, Angiostrongylus cantonensis. (symptoma.com)
- Human infection by Angiostrongylus cantonensis occurs through consumption of raw or undercooked food and vegetables that contain larvae or eggs of this parasite . (symptoma.com)
- First described by the renowned Chinese parasitologist Hsin-Tao Chen (1904-1977) in 1935, after examining Cantonese rat specimens, the nematode Angiostrongylus cantonensis was identified in the cerebrospinal fluid of a patient with eosinophilic meningitis by Nomura and Lim in Taiwan in 1944. (wikipedia.org)
- In Hawaii, cases can be diagnosed with a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test, performed by the State Laboratories Division, that detects A. cantonensis DNA in patients' cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) or other tissue. (hawaii.gov)
- Yen, C. M. / An outbreak of meningitis caused by Angiostrongylus cantonensis in Kaohsiung . (elsevier.com)
- The diagnosis of Angiostrongylus cantonensis infection was established in all patients by serologic studies of serum and cerebral spinal fluid (CSF). (elsevier.com)
- Hawaii's Health Department warned that the roundworm-caused disease "can have debilitating effects on an infected person's brain and spinal cord," with most Hawaii cases of the illness resulting from people "accidentally ingesting a snail or slug infected with the parasite Angiostrongylus cantonensis. (ledger-enquirer.com)
- This observation, along with epidemiology and autopsy of infected brains, confirmed A. cantonensis infection in humans as the cause of the majority of eosinophilic meningitis cases in Southeast Asia and the Pacific Islands. (wikipedia.org)
- Humans can become infected with A. cantonensis if they eat (intentionally or otherwise) a raw or undercooked infected intermediate host, thereby ingesting the parasite. (hawaii.gov)
- The adult form of A. cantonensis is only found in rodents. (hawaii.gov)
- Blood samples from 5 patients were positive for antibodies to A. cantonensis. (symptoma.com)
- Scientists are calling for a more thorough study of the epidemiology of A. cantonensis , stricter food-safety policies, and the increase of knowledge on how to properly consume products commonly infested by the parasite, such as snails and slugs that act as intermediate hosts or those that act as paratenic hosts , such as fish, frogs, or freshwater prawns. (wikipedia.org)
- Angiostrongylus costaricensis is a closely related worm that causes intestinal angiostrongyliasis in Central and South America. (wikipedia.org)
- Adult female worm of Angiostrongylus cantonensis with characteristic barber-pole appearance (anterior end of worm is to the top). (wikipedia.org)
- In 2013, A. cantonensis was confirmed present in Florida , USA, where its range and prevalence are expanding. (wikipedia.org)
- You can get angiostrongyliasis by eating food contaminated by the larval stage of A. cantonensis worms. (hawaii.gov)
- This observation, along with epidemiology and autopsy of infected brains, confirmed A. cantonensis infection in humans as the cause of the majority of eosinophilic meningitis cases in Southeast Asia and the Pacific Islands. (wikipedia.org)
- Food items that can be contaminated by the mucus excretions of intermediate or paratenic hosts such snails and slugs or by the feces of rats that act as definitive hosts can lead to infection of A. cantonensis. (wikipedia.org)
- A. cantonensis is an important parasitic agent in Jamaica for which a definitive route of infection is often not found. (cdc.gov)
- Because of the high prevalence of A. cantonensis infection in mollusks in certain parts of Jamaica, consumption of raw, infected shrimp may be a source of sporadic angiostrongyliasis on the island. (cdc.gov)
- Angiostrongyliasis, the most common infectious cause of eosinophilic meningitis, results from infection by the parasitic nematode Angiostrongylus cantonensis 1 . (medsci.org)
- The test utilizing purified A . cantonensis antigen is reliable and reproducible for specific immunodiagnosis of human infection with A. cantonensis - thus can be applied as an additional routine test for clinical diagnostic support. (cambridge.org)
- Angiostrongylus cantonensis infection is endemic in regions such as Southeast Asia, China, the Pacific Basin, and the Caribbean, but international travel has spread the disease elsewhere, including Europe ( 1 - 10 ). (cdc.gov)
- A. cantonensis infection was diagnosed by immunoblot testing at the Department of Helminthology, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok. (cdc.gov)
- Not all cases were serologically confirmed, most likely because antibody tests for A. cantonensis infection have not been widely available. (cdc.gov)
- The lymphoid cell response of rats to A. cantonensis appeared to be local in nature in that significant responses were noted only in the cervical lymph node cells during the first 4 weeks of infection. (ajtmh.org)
- High prevalence of Angiostrongylus cantonensis (rat lungworm) on eastern Hawai`i Island: A closer look at life cycle traits and patterns of infection in wild rats ( Rattus spp. (unl.edu)
- The main objective of this study was to collect adult A. cantonensis from wild rats to isolate protein for the development of a blood-based diagnostic, in the process we evaluated the prevalence of infection in wild rats. (unl.edu)
- The exceptionally high prevalence of A. cantonensis infection in Rattus spp. (unl.edu)
- There is no specific treatment for A. cantonensis infection. (cdc.gov)
- Haemagglutinating anti-A. cantonensis antibody appeared in the serum of infected rats when the parasites commenced to lay eggs and increased in titre thereafter until 103 days after infection. (edu.au)
- The diagnosis of Angiostrongylus cantonensis infection was established in all patients by serologic studies of serum and cerebral spinal fluid (CSF). (elsevier.com)
- The purpose of the study was to record different intermediate hosts of A. cantonensis and to determine the infection prevalence and intensity of this parasite in freshwater snails in relation to some ecological and biological factors. (parasite-journal.org)
- Thirteen species of freshwater snails of nine families were examined for A. cantonensis infection. (parasite-journal.org)
- L. carinatus snail had the highest prevalence, mean abundance and mean intensity of A. cantonensis infection. (parasite-journal.org)
- Infection with Angiostrongylus cantonensis roundworms is endemic in Southeast Asia and the Pacific Basin. (cdc.gov)
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain (A) and the spine (B) showing meningitis and myelitis in a 12-month-old girl with Angiostrongylus cantonensis infection, Houston, Texas, USA. (cdc.gov)
- A definite parasitological diagnosis is rarely achieved in patients with A. cantonensis infection. (fiocruz.br)
- This study aimed to determine the prevalence of A. cantonensis infection in Achatina fulica in the nine municipalities that make up Baixada Santista, São Paulo, Brazil. (unicamp.br)
- Angiostrongylus cantonensis infection causes eosinophilic meningitis in humans. (cambridge.org)
- cantonensis infection causes a self-limited illness in which headaches, nonfocal neurologic findings, and cranial nerve involvement are the most common signs and symptoms. (thefreedictionary.com)
- Angiostrongylus cantonensis infection may cause elevation of ROS and antioxidants in the CSF of infected mice. (hindawi.com)
- To our knowledge, this is the first report of A. cantonensis infection through the consumption of centipedes," they wrote. (fox61.com)
- Angiostrongylus infection, or angiostrongyliasis, in humans is not contagious. (pestworld.org)
- Angiostrongyliasis is infection with Angiostrongylus cantonensis (cerebral) or Angiostrongylus costaricensis (abdominal). (histopathology-india.net)
- Infection by the nematode Angiostrongylus cantonensis induces differential expression of miRNAs in mouse brain. (semanticscholar.org)
- A. cantonensis is a helminth of the phylum Nematoda, order Strongylida, and superfamily Metastrongyloidea. (wikipedia.org)
- Eamsobhana , P. ( 1994 ) Immunological studies on the rat lung-worm Angiostrongylus cantonensis (Nematoda: Metastrongylidae). (cambridge.org)
- Firts report of Angiostrongylus cantonensis (Nematoda: Metastrongyloidae) in Achatina fulica (Mollusca: Gastropoda) from Southeast and South Brazil. (revistabiomedica.org)
- Angiostrongylus costaricensis is a closely related worm that causes intestinal angiostrongyliasis in Central and South America. (wikipedia.org)
- Angiostrongylus costaricensis is a closely related worm that causes intestinal angiostrongyliasis in Central and South America. (wikipedia.org)
- We PCR amplified and sequenced ITS1 from A. costaricensis (two laboratory strains from Costa Rica and Brazil), A. vasorum (from naturally infected hosts in United Kingdom), and A. cantonensis from three geographical regions (one laboratory strain from Japan plus nine environmental isolates from Hawaii and New Orleans, LA) to assess the variability of this potential PCR target. (asm.org)
- The other parasite that causes rat lungworm, Angiostrongylus costaricensis , can also cause abdominal pain since it often travels to the intestines. (popsci.com)
- Species A. cantonensis and A. costaricensis normally infect other animals but can cause angiostrongyliasis in humans. (thefreedictionary.com)
- First described by Chen (1935) in Cantonese rats, the nematode Angiostrongylus cantonensis was identified in the cerebrospinal fluid of a patient with eosinophilic meningitis by Nomura and Lim in Taiwan in 1944. (wikipedia.org)
- First described by the renowned Chinese parasitologist Hsin-Tao Chen (1904-1977) in 1935, after examining Cantonese rat specimens, the nematode Angiostrongylus cantonensis was identified in the cerebrospinal fluid of a patient with eosinophilic meningitis by Nomura and Lim in Taiwan in 1944. (wikipedia.org)
- The nematode Angiostrongylus cantonensis is a zoonotic pathogen and the etiological agent of human angiostrongyliasis or rat lungworm disease. (unl.edu)
- The nematode Angiostrongylus cantonensis , or rat lungworm, is the most common cause of human eosinophilic meningitis. (wormbase.org)
- The nematode Angiostrongylus cantonensis has spread down the eastern coast of Australia over recent decades. (mja.com.au)
- The parasitic nematode Angiostrongylus cantonensis or the rat lungworm is a parasitic worm residing in the pulmonary arteries of rats. (news-medical.net)
- The nematode Angiostrongylus cantonensis is a rat lungworm, a zoonotic pathogen which causes a global, emerging infectious disease known as rat lungworm disease (RLWD). (hawaii.edu)
- Angiostrongylus cantonensis (the rat lungworm) was first discovered in 1935 by Chen in Rattus rattus, in Canton, China. (histopathology-india.net)
- Here, we present a case of eosinophilic meningitis due to A. cantonensis . (medsci.org)
- Our patient is a mentally challenged 21-year-old Taiwanese man who presented with intermittent bilateral lower extremity weakness, fever, headache and acute urinary retention, and was finally diagnosed with eosinophilic meningitis due to A cantonensis . (bmj.com)
- These results indicate the potential application of this PCR assay with clinical CSF samples for additional support in the confirmation of eosinophilic meningitis due to A. cantonensis. (fiocruz.br)
- Eosinophilic meningitis due to Angiostrongylus cantonensis. (medscape.com)
- In 2013, A. cantonensis was confirmed present in Florida, USA, where its range and prevalence are expanding. (wikipedia.org)
- We also provide a brief update for physicians on the characteristics, diagnosis and treatment of eosinophilic meningitis caused by A. cantonensis , with particular emphasis on the update of prevalence and treatment of the disease in China. (medsci.org)
- High prevalence of Angiostrongylus cantonensis (rat lungworm) o" by Susan I. Jarvi, Stefano Quarta et al. (unl.edu)
- Positive correlations were found between both prevalence and mean abundance of A. cantonensis and host size in L. carinatus and M. tuberculata . (parasite-journal.org)
- Between March and June 2004, 13 /22 tawny frog mouths necropsied were positive for cerebrospinal angiostrongylosis identified mostly from the northern suburb areas of Cremorne, Mosman, Warringah, Lane Cove and as far North as Clareville This range of cases indicates an increase in the prevalence of A. cantonensis in tawny frogmouths in the wider Sydney area, and possibly represent a sentinel species for this parasite in other animals and humans. (agriculture.gov.au)
- The rat lungworm (Angiostrongylus cantonensis) is a parasitic nematode that causes rat lungworm disease. (altmetric.com)
- WATCH OUT This parasitic roundworm ( Angiostrongylus cantonensis ) causes rat lungworm disease. (sciencenews.org)
- The Rat Lungworm disease (RLWD), or Angiostrongyliasis, is caused by Angiostrongylus cantonensis (A. cantonenis), a roundworm parasite that affects the central nervous system. (news-medical.net)
- Rat lungworm disease, a parasite officially known as Angiostrongylus cantonensis, affects the brain and the spinal cord, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (wtvr.com)
- Laboratory results confirmed evidence of the rat lungworm disease parasite (Angiostrongylus cantonensis) in the child's spinal fluid. (hawaii247.com)
- Rat lungworm disease is caused by a parasitic roundworm called Angiostrongylus cantonensis . (hawaii.edu)
- Lab tests confirmed that they were infected with rat lungworm, otherwise known as Angiostrongylus cantonensis, which had caused a type of meningitis. (fox61.com)
- Aguiar PH, Morera P, Pascual J. First record of Angiostrongylus cantonensis in Cuba. (revistabiomedica.org)
- Acid phosphatase activity demonstrated in the nematodes, Dirofilaria immitis and Angiostrongylus cantonensis with special reference to the characters and distribution. (usda.gov)
- Three were necropsied, and histopathology of the brains and spinal cords revealed migrating nematodes, which were identified as Angiostrongylus cantonensis. (thefreedictionary.com)
- Now, researchers report in PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases that a detail analysis of the genetics of the rat lungworm parasite-- Angiostrongylus cantonensis-- reveal signatures of adaptive evolution that have let the parasite survive and may serve as future drug targets. (eurekalert.org)
- We report the development of a real-time PCR assay for the species-specific identification of A. cantonensis in mollusk tissue. (asm.org)
- Here we describe a new real-time PCR assay that allows for a direct detection of A. cantonensis at the species level. (asm.org)
- Conclusion: The results will help us to understand the basic characters of A. cantonensis SNPs fully and the predicted SNPs will be powerful tools for species authentication development, transmission survey, as well as many other genome wide association studies (GWAS). (alliedacademies.org)
- The definitive hosts of A. cantonensis are various species of rats. (biomedcentral.com)
- Recently, the mRNA sequence encoding the 66 kDa native protein from A. cantonensis adult worms has been described and used as the basis for developing a PCR protocol for simultaneous unambiguous identification of species of the genus Angiostrongylus . (fiocruz.br)
- The AC primers are highly specific and have been used successfully to amplify DNA of Angiostrongylus species (Silva et al. (fiocruz.br)
- The species Angiostrongylus cantonensis (A. cantonensis) or the rat lungworm is. (news-medical.net)
- Angiostrongylus cantonensis is not specific for either definitive or intermediate hosts. (animaldiversity.org)
- The definitive hosts for Angiostrongylus cantonensis are usually rodents from the genus Rattus , with some main ones being Rattus norvegicus and Rattus rattus . (animaldiversity.org)
- Angiostrongylus cantonensis has a complex life cycle that involves intermediate, paratenic, and definitive hosts as well as several larval stages before becoming an adult. (animaldiversity.org)
- Cowie presents data confirming acquisition of _A. cantonensis_ by animal hosts, which carry the nematode but do not become infected. (blogspot.com)
- Wallace GD, Rosen L. Studies on eosinophilic meningitis V. Molluscan hosts of Angiostrongylus cantonensis on Pacific Islands. (hawaii.edu)
- The People's Republic of China (P.R. China) is the presumptive home range of the rat lungworm Angiostrongylus cantonensis , a major aetiological agent of human eosinophilic meningitis. (biomedcentral.com)
- A. cantonensis is a parasitic nematode from the genus Angiostrongylus ( 1 - 4 ) . (canada.ca)
- The diagnosis is supported by positive antibody-detection tests for A. cantonensis , e.g., enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and immunoblot analysis (Eamsobhana & Tungtrongchitr 2005, Cross & Chen 2007, Eamsobhana & Yong 2009). (fiocruz.br)
- LAMP is an appropriate diagnostic method for the routine identification of A. cantonensis within its intermediate host snail P. canaliculata because of its simplicity, sensitivity, and specificity. (biomedcentral.com)
- Although it's not the major intermediate host, this particular snail is important because it may be a primary reason why Angiostrongylus cantonensis has spread. (animaldiversity.org)
- In Hawaii, most people become ill by accidentally ingesting a snail or slug infected with the parasite Angiostrongylus cantonensis (A. cantonensis). (hawaii247.com)
- en Ecuador entre el 2014 y el 2017. (revistabiomedica.org)
- Cuando el parásito infecta a los caracoles terrestres Achatina , se enquista en su interior y puede infectar accidentalmente a las personas y otros mamíferos. (revistabiomedica.org)
- Establecer la distribución geográfica de A. cantonensis en huéspedes intermediarios ( Achatina fulica ) y definitivos ( Rattus spp . (revistabiomedica.org)
- The cycle of A. cantonensis occurs mainly in molluscs and rodents. (scielo.br)
- 2007) and the hypothesis that the introduction of this parasite occurred through the migration of infected rodents on ships coming mainly from Asia and Africa, a project was implemented to investigate the presence of A. cantonensis in the areas surrounding the main ports of Brazil ( Fig. 1 ). (scielo.br)
- In 1987, A. cantonensis roundworm was identified for the first time in North America in rodents. (cdc.gov)
- Angiostrongylus cantonensis, a parasitic nematode found in rodents, is the. (news-medical.net)
- Martin-Alonso A, Foronda P, Quispe-Ricalde MA, Feliu C, Valladares B. Seroprevalence of Angiostrongylus cantonensis in Wild Rodents from the Canary Islands. (hawaii.edu)
- a Based on the A. cantonensis 18S rRNA gene GenBank entry (accession number AY295804 ). (asm.org)
- The most common cause of eosinophilic meningitis is the invasion of the central nervous system by helminthic parasites, in particular Angiostrongylus cantonensis -also known as the rat lung worm. (bmj.com)
- 6 Helminthic parasites, in particular A cantonensis , are seen in all regions in Taiwan and are an important cause of eosinophilic meningitis. (bmj.com)
- Parasites of Ovachlamys fulgens includes Angiostrongylus cantonensis. (wikipedia.org)
- Abdominal angiostrongyliasis caused by Angiostrongylus cantonensis: A possible cause of eosinophilic infiltration in human digestive tract. (humpath.com)
- Between December 2000 and May 2002, two cases of A. cantonensis were diagnosed in tawny frogmouths in the Sydney area by the Australian Registry of Wildlife Health at Taronga Zoo. (agriculture.gov.au)
- In this situation, molecular approaches that target genetic sequences of A. cantonensis may assist in providing an aetiologic diagnosis. (fiocruz.br)
- Angiostrongylus cantonensis -infected rats were examined for the presence of antigen sensitive lymphocytes, as assessed by the in vitro uptake of tritiated thymidine by cells of various lymphoid organs (cervical, mediastinal and mesenteric lymph nodes, spleen and peripheral blood), following stimulation by adult worm antigen. (ajtmh.org)
- The PCR method detected A. cantonensis DNA in CSF samples from four of 10 serologically confirmed angiostrongyliasis cases. (fiocruz.br)
- Adult female worm of Angiostrongylus cantonensis with characteristic barber-pole appearance (anterior end of worm is to the top). (wikipedia.org)
- increasing quantities of AChE were found in young adult A. cantonensis from the brain of rats. (edu.au)
- We performed polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphism using restriction endonuclease ClaI, directed to the internal transcribed spacer region 2 of A. cantonensis larval DNA. (unicamp.br)