most common cause of eosinophilic meningitis in SE Asia and Pacific Basin
Eustrongylidosis
caused by three species of Eustrongylides: E. ignotus, E. tubifex, and E. excisus
E. excisus “red-worm-of-trout” has recently been found in NSW, southern Qld and Victoria
infects an invertebrate in fresh water, which is then eaten by a fish which becomes infected which can then infect a bird or other animal which eats the fish
can infect humans (rare and gastric acids will generally prevent infection) and other mammals (eg. pets) when they eat uncooked or undercooked fish caught in fresh water and can be lethal to some animals
Baylisascariasis
Baylisascaris procyonis raccoon roundworm, an increasing problem in Europe - causes permanent blindness in humans, although only 3 cases recorded to 2025 1)
adult in lymph → pre-larvae blood/lung ⇒ elephantiasis)
Brugia
via mosquitoes
as for Wuchereria
Dirofilaria (dog “heartworm”)
via mosquitoes
die readily in human pulmonary artery branches ⇒ granuloma lung and may present as an incidental solitary lung lesions and nodules may also be found under skin, in brain, conjunctivae, as a breast lump, and in the testicle
D. immitis occurs globally including Australia (esp. temperate east coast ie. Qld, NSW) and USA; main host are dogs
D. repens, which is not found in the United States, is the leading cause of human dirofilariasis in Europe
D. tenuis host is raccoons
A review of cases of human dirofilariasis in the United States published in 2005 lists a total of 81 cases reported in the literature since 1941, the year of the first reported case 2)
Mansonella
ectoparasites
insects that attach or burrow into the skin and remain there for relatively long periods of time (e.g., weeks to months) such as: