angiostrongyliasis
angiostrongyliasis
see also:
introduction
- Angiostrongyliasis is the most common cause of eosinophilic meningitis in SE Asia and Pacific Basin.
- it is caused by Angiostrongylus cantonensis, a nematode (roundworm) parasite which resides in pulmonary arteries of rats.
- primary intermediate host are snails
- humans are incidental hosts and become infected through eating raw or undercooked infected snails or other vectors, or contaminated water or vegetables.
- the larva migrate to CNS where they cause eosinophilic meningitis
- see wikipedia
other species of Angiostrongylus
- Angiostrongylus vasorum is mainly in western Europe but also found in most parts of the world
- natural definitive hosts include domestic dogs and foxes
- resides in right ventricle and the pulmonary artery hence “heart worm”
- natural paratenic hosts can be frogs, lizards, mice, rats.
- natural intermediate hosts are land slugs, land snails and freshwater snails
- Angiostrongylus costaricensis
- see wikipedia
angiostrongyliasis.txt · Last modified: 2012/01/08 23:10 by 127.0.0.1