Observations on the Method of Human Infection With Angiostrongylus Cantonensis in Tahiti

Abstract

Infective larvae of the rat lungworm Angiostrongylus cantonensis, the causative agent of parasitic meningoencephalitis in man, have been found in about 4% of the stomach contents of freshwater prawns examined in Tahiti. This is believed to constitute the main source of the local human infection. These crustaceans and "taioro," a food consisting of grated coconut and prawn juice, are commonly eaten raw by Tahitians and some local Europeans. Infected mollusks have also been found on vegetation commonly eaten raw, and may constitute an occasional source of human infection. Laboratory-raised rats have been experimentally infected with A. cantonensis by applying infective larvae on the abraded skin. No infection occurred when the larvae were placed on the intact skin. In addition to land mollusks, the freshwater snail (Fossaria ollula) was also found to be a suitable intermediate host for A. cantonensis.

Granulomatous Encephalomyelitis of Puppies Due To

“…The rat lungworm Angiostrongylus cantonensis is known to cause eosinophilic meningo-encephalitis in man (Alicata 1962). In its natural host the worm migrates to the brain and then to the pulmonary arteries where it reaches sexual maturity, but in other mammals the migration is not completed and the worms apparently remain and cause damage in the central nervous system for some time.…”

Canine neural angiostrongylosis: the clinical and therapeutic features of 55 natural cases

“…Angiostrongylus cantonensis is a known cause of an menigno-encephalitis in man (Alicata 1962), dogs (Mason et a1 1976) and macropods (McKenzie et a1 1978). Its natural host is the rat, in which third and fourth stage larvae migrate up the spinal cord to the brain.…”

Roundworms in Fishes and so-called "Herring-worm Disease"

“…She concluded that it is quite possible that other members of the Anisakidae occurring as larvae in fish, and developing to adults in warm-blooded hosts, are capable of a similar migration. The comments by Ortlepp (1922a, 1922b), and by Sprent and Barrett (1964) There is one record (Buckley, 1951) Rosen et al (1961) suggested that an outbreak of eosinophilic meningitis in Tahiti was caused by some helminth parasite of a pelagic fish commonly eaten raw in the area; but Alicata (1962), Alicata and Brown (1962), and Alicata et al (1963) believed that Angiostrongylus cantonensis, a nematode normally parasitic in rats, with slugs as intermediate hosts, was the causative agent. Galliard (1962) and Anderson et al (1962), however, pointed out that there was insufficient knowledge of eosinophilic meningitis in man in Tahiti to suggest a helminth aetiology.…”

“…Galliard (1962) and Anderson et al (1962), however, pointed out that there was insufficient knowledge of eosinophilic meningitis in man in Tahiti to suggest a helminth aetiology. Alicata (1963) refers to the possible relation of A. cantonensis with eosinophilic meningitis, and states that the source of infection is believed to be infected snails and planarians accidentally eaten with improperly washed lettuce or other vegetables. He also stated that, although there is no evidence to support the belief that human infection with the larvae of Angiostrongylus takes place through broken skin, such a mode of infection cannot be disregarded.…”