Parastrongylus cantonensisin a Nonhuman Primate, Florida

Abstract

Parastrongylus (= Angiostrongylus) cantonensis is a parasitic nematode of Norway rats throughout tropical regions. This parasite is neurotropic and causes disease and death in humans and other mammals. We report the first identification of P. cantonensis as the cause of a debilitating neurologic disease in a captive primate in Florida.

Eosinophilic meningoencephalomyelitis in an orangutan (Pongo pygmaeus) caused byAngiostrongylus cantonensis

“…The parasite was first reported in the continental United States of America when identified in rodents in the New Orleans area in 1988 with demonstration of disease in multiple species in the area since that time (Campbell & Little 1988;Kim et al 2002). The only case previously documented in Florida occurred in 2004, where a case of fatal A. cantonensis meningoencephalitis was diagnosed in a white-handed gibbon (Hylobates lar) from Zoo Miami (formerly Miami Metrozoo) (Duffy et al 2004). Other species reported with clinical disease from this parasite include humans, non-human primates, dogs, horses, opossum, mice, birds, and various other zoo animals (Gardiner et al 1990;Alicata 1991;Carlisle et al 1998;Kim et al 2002;Duffy et al 2004;Gelis et al 2011;Lunn et al 2012).…”

“…The only case previously documented in Florida occurred in 2004, where a case of fatal A. cantonensis meningoencephalitis was diagnosed in a white-handed gibbon (Hylobates lar) from Zoo Miami (formerly Miami Metrozoo) (Duffy et al 2004). Other species reported with clinical disease from this parasite include humans, non-human primates, dogs, horses, opossum, mice, birds, and various other zoo animals (Gardiner et al 1990;Alicata 1991;Carlisle et al 1998;Kim et al 2002;Duffy et al 2004;Gelis et al 2011;Lunn et al 2012). Also known as the rat lungworm, A. cantonensis is a nematode that normally lives in the right ventricle and pulmonary artery of various species of rat, the definitive host (Alicata 1991).…”

“…In humans, the disease is most often self-limiting with 2-8 weeks of severe headache and malaise (Hochberg et al 2001). The cases reported in non-human primates have been predominantly fatal which may reflect underdiagnosis of selflimiting cases, challenges with treatment administration or compliance, or may indicate a more aggressive pathophysiology in these animals (Gardiner et al 1990;Carlisle et al 1998;Kim et al 2002;Duffy et al 2004). This patient demonstrated several typical findings including fever, malaise, fecal retention, ascending paralysis, peripheral eosinophilia, and CSF eosinophilic pleocytosis.…”

“…Infection occurs following the ingestion of intermediate hosts (mollusks) or paratenic hosts (e.g. raw or undercooked frogs, crustaceans, and some fish) containing the infective L 3 larvae (Duffy et al 2004;Ramirez-Avila et al 2009;Wang et al 2012). A. cantonensis larvae have obligate neurotropism, which is the primary disease pathogenesis in incidental hosts.…”

Hallazgos Histopatológicos en el Sistema Nervioso Central de Rattus norvegicus Infectados con Angiostrongylus cantonensis

“…El sacrificio de las ratas se realizó en una cámara de CO 2 Los tejidos del Sistema Nervioso Central (SNC) fueron fijados y conservados en formalina al 10%, incluidos en parafina, cortadas y teñidas con hematoxilina-eosina para su observación, según el procedimientos estándar de Duffy et al (2004).…”