dogs may be a reservoir host for Angiostrongylus costaricensis

Abstract

Angiostrongylus costaricensis is a parasitic nematode of wild rodents. Several other vertebrate species including man may become infected by ingestion of the third stage larvae produced by the intermediate hosts, usually slugs from the family Veronicellidae. There is a report of the diagnosis of abdominal angiostrongyliasis in Canis familiaris with lesions resembling those found in human disease. As a preliminar evaluation of the adequacy of a canine model for pathogenetic studies, a dog was inoculated with 75 L3 of A. costaricensis. Infection was established and fist stage larvae were found in feces up to 88 days post infection, sometimes in very large numbers (9.5 x 10(4) L1/g). No clinical manifestations or significant lesions were detected. These are indications that dog may play a role as a reservoir host for A. costaricensis.

Human infection by Angiostrongylus costaricensis in Venezuela: first report of a confirmed case

“…Rodents of 12 species (mostly the cotton rat Sigmodon hispidus) have been demonstrated as definite natural host, but also marmosets (Sanguinus mystax) 23 and coatis (Nasua narica) 13 have been found naturally infected. The dog has also been found naturally infected 1 and experiments suggest that the dog may be a good reservoir host 20 . Veronicellid slugs have been found as intermediate hosts, as well as some species of terrestrial snails 18 .…”

Mitochondrial Genome Supports Sibling Species of Angiostrongylus costaricensis (Nematoda: Angiostrongylidae)

“…There are some 16 definitive hosts, including 10 species of rodents, 1 species of opossum, 2 species of carnivores and 3 species of primates [ 2 ]. Dogs have been suggested to play a role as a reservoir host [ 3 ].…”

<i>Angiostrongylus costaricensis</i>: Systematic Review of Case Reports

“…The definitive hosts are different species of rodents, and the main one is Sigmodon hispidus. There are other species involved such as Rattus rattus, Zygodontomys microtinus, Orizomys fulvesceus and Orizomys caliginosus [3]; but, ocassionaly, even dogs can be potential reservoirs [4]. Intermediate hosts are slugs from the Veronicellidae family, such as Sarasinula plebeia.…”