Angiostrongylus cantonensis MORPHOLOGY

- Also known as rat lungworm

- Parasitic nematode Adult Female:
- Causes eosinophilic meningitis - 21 to 25 mm in length
- have vulva which is located
HISTORY 0.2mm in front of the anus
- Angiostrongylus cantonensis was - barber-pole appearance
first discovered in 1934 by
Professor Chen Xintao and has Adult Male:
become an important emerging - 15.9 to 19 mm in length13-20mm
pathogen causing human - Males possess small copulatory
angiostrongyliasis. bursa supported by bursal rays
- It bеgan in thе city of Guangzhou, - have long and slender spicules
China.
- Angiostrongylus cantonensis was
first described from rats in China
by Chen in 1935 and placed in
the genus Pulmonema, as
Pulmonema cantonensis.

EPIDEMIOLOGY
- Worldwide distribution
- Angiostrongylus spp. are
classically endemic to the
Asia-Pacific regions, with the
highest incidence in Thailand and
Malaysia.
- Prevalent in areas with high rat LIFE CYCLE
and snail populations.
- Human cases first reported in the
1930s.
- Global spread observed with rat
and snail trade.
- The infection is mainly acquired
by eating raw or undercooked
snails or slugs
Intermediate host: Slugs and snails pain and corticosteroids to limit
Definitive host: Rodents the inflammatory reaction.
- Albendazole (15–20 mg/kg/day
Pathogenesis and Clinical for 2–4 weeks) or
Manifestations - Praziquantel (400–1200 mg/day
for 2–3 weeks)
Eosinophilic meningitis:
- Symptoms range from mild to PREVENTION AND CONTROL
severe. - Avoid eating the primary,
- Meningitis symptoms include intermediate, and paratenic hosts
headache, stiff neck, and fever. of the parasite raw or
Nausea, vomiting, and loss of undercooked.
appetite may occur. - Wash and rinse raw fruits and
- Severe cases can lead to vegetables before eating them.
neurological deficits. Rarely, - Remove any insects, dirt, debris,
infection can be fatal. or any visible damage or
contamination by gastropods.
Angiostrongyliasis - Cook food thoroughly (165
- nausea, vomiting, and abdominal degrees for 15 mins)
pain a few hours to a few days - Eliminate snails, rugs, and rats
after ingestion near houses.
- Use protective gloves when
LABORATORY DIAGNOSIS handling soil.
- Lumbar puncture for
cerebrospinal fluid analysis. NICE TO KNOW FACTS
- CSF examination reveals - The disease is also known as
eosinophilic meningitis eosinophilic meningitis.
- Worms seldom found in CSF. - Most infections are self-limiting
- Serological tests can support the and resolve without treatment.
diagnosis - Cooked snails and slugs are safe
- ELISA test to detect specific to eat.
antibodies. - Rats are not affected by the
- Immunoblotting for confirmatory worms like humans are.
diagnosis. - The disease is considered a
- Molecular techniques like PCR neglected tropical disease.
for

TREATMENT
- Treatment is usually supportive
with the use of analgesics for