Prevalence and distribution of Angiostrongylus cantonensis (Nematoda, Angiostrongylidae) in Achatina fulica (Mollusca, Gastropoda) in Baixada Santista, São Paulo, Brazil

Abstract

Introduction: Angiostrongylus cantonensis causes eosinophilic meningoencephalitis in humans. Worldwide expansion of this nematode is linked to the dispersion of their hosts. 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. Methods: Angiostrongylus cantonensis larvae were analyzed using optical microscopy. 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. Results: Of the 540 snails analyzed, 117 (21.7%) were infected by A. cantonensis. For morphological and morphometric analyses, 60 larvae were used. Second-stage larvae were, on average, 358.2µm long and 26.4µm wide, while third-stage larvae were, on average, 450µm long and 21.12µm wide. The tails of the larvae ended in a fine tip. Conclusions: All municipalities comprising Baixada Santista had A. fulica that were naturally infected with A. cantonensis. All of the observed characteristics were typical of the species.

Apoptosis and necroptosis of mouse hippocampal and parenchymal astrocytes, microglia and neurons caused by Angiostrongylus cantonensis infection

“…Eosinophilic meningitis or eosinophilic meningoencephalitis in humans is commonly caused by Angiostrongylus cantonensis , a food-borne zoonotic parasite, in southern Asia and the Pacific and Caribbean islands [ 14 , 15 ]. The clinical symptoms of angiostrongyliasis cantonensis are characterized by severe headache, neck stiffness, paraesthesias and cranial nerve palsy [ 16 , 17 ].…”

First record of the Japanese land snail Ovachlamys fulgens (Gude, 1900) (Gastropoda, Helicarionidae) in Brazil

“…While these proposed measures may have a negative economic impact, we would like to emphasize that such measures are also supported by the human health concerns that this species presents. Ovachlamys fulgens could be an intermediate host of Angystrongylus cantonensis (Kim et al 2014), which causes eosinophilic meningitis disease; this disease has already been reported in the Baixada Santista region (Guerino et al 2017). The distribution of seedlings and plants and any related activities in localities with confirmed presence of O. fulgens should be prohibited to avoid its dispersion until new information arises.…”

First record of natural infection by Angiostrongylus cantonensis (Nematoda: Metastrongyloidea) in Belocaulus willibaldoi and Rattus norvegicus in an urban area of São Paulo city, SP, Brazil

“…This study describes the first record of natural infection of B. willibaldoi by A. cantonensis larvae, which presented morphology and morphometry compatible with third stage larvae (L3), according to Ash (1970) , Thiengo et al. (2010) and Guerino et al. (2017) .…”