-
Hawai'i Journal of Medicine & Public... Jun 2013Cerebral angiostrongyliasis due to Angiostrongylus cantonensis continues to affect human health and productivity in Thailand. The dietary habits of the populace have... (Review)
Review
Cerebral angiostrongyliasis due to Angiostrongylus cantonensis continues to affect human health and productivity in Thailand. The dietary habits of the populace have been an important contributing factor, particularly in the northeast of the country where the disease is endemic and the indigenous people enjoy a local undercooked snail dish called "koi-hoi". Hundreds of cases of disease continue to be reported annually. Because of the difficulty in obtaining a definitive diagnosis, immunological methods have played an important role in the confirmation of A. cantonensis infection. Although enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and immunoblot are test formats that have been used over the past decade, modern molecular approaches, such as PCR-based diagnostic techniques, are being developed and assessed as additional tests for the diagnosis of cerebral angiostrongyliasis. This short review focuses on the history, incidence, and laboratory diagnosis of angiostrongyliasis in Thailand.
Topics: Angiostrongylus cantonensis; Animals; Antibodies, Helminth; Antigens, Helminth; DNA; Eosinophilia; History, 20th Century; History, 21st Century; Humans; Incidence; Meningitis; Strongylida Infections; Thailand
PubMed: 23901379
DOI: No ID Found -
Parasitology Feb 2021A subcommittee of the Hawaii Governor's Joint Task Force on Rat Lungworm Disease developed preliminary guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of... (Review)
Review
A subcommittee of the Hawaii Governor's Joint Task Force on Rat Lungworm Disease developed preliminary guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of neuroangiostrongyliasis (NAS) in 2018 (Guidelines, 2018). This paper reviews the main points of those guidelines and provides updates in areas where our understanding of the disease has increased. The diagnosis of NAS is described, including confirmation of infection by real-time polymerase chain reaction (RTi-PCR) to detect parasite DNA in the central nervous system (CNS). The treatment literature is reviewed with recommendations for the use of corticosteroids and the anthelminthic drug albendazole. Long-term sequelae of NAS are discussed and recommendations for future research are proposed.
Topics: Adrenal Cortex Hormones; Albendazole; Angiostrongylus cantonensis; Animals; Anthelmintics; Hawaii; Humans; Strongylida Infections
PubMed: 32729438
DOI: 10.1017/S0031182020001262 -
Parasites & Vectors Mar 2016Nematodes of the genus Angiostrongylus are important causes of potentially life-threatening diseases in several animal species and humans. Angiostrongylus vasorum... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Nematodes of the genus Angiostrongylus are important causes of potentially life-threatening diseases in several animal species and humans. Angiostrongylus vasorum affects the right ventricle of the heart and the pulmonary arteries in dogs, red foxes and other carnivores. The diagnosis of canine angiostrongylosis may be challenging due to the wide spectrum of clinical signs. Ocular manifestations have been seldom reported but have serious implications for patients.
METHODS
The clinical history of three cases of infection with A. vasorum in dogs diagnosed in UK, France and Italy, was obtained from clinical records provided by the veterinary surgeons along with information on the diagnostic procedures and treatment. Nematodes collected from the eyes of infected dogs were morphologically identified to the species level and molecularly analysed by the amplification of the nuclear 18S rRNA gene.
RESULTS
On admission, the dogs were presented with various degrees of ocular discomfort and hyphema because of the presence of a motile object in the eye. The three patients had ocular surgery during which nematodes were removed and subsequently morphologically and molecularly identified as two adult males and one female of A. vasorum.
CONCLUSIONS
Three new cases of canine ocular angiostrongylosis are reported along with a review of other published clinical cases to improve the diagnosis and provide clinical recommendation for this parasitic condition. In addition, the significance of migratory patterns of larvae inside the host body is discussed. Veterinary healthcare workers should include canine angiostrongylosis in the differential diagnosis of ocular diseases.
Topics: Angiostrongylus; Animals; DNA, Helminth; DNA, Ribosomal; Dog Diseases; Dogs; Eye; Eye Diseases; France; Italy; Locomotion; Molecular Diagnostic Techniques; Parasitology; RNA, Ribosomal, 18S; Sequence Analysis, DNA; Strongylida Infections; United Kingdom
PubMed: 27000634
DOI: 10.1186/s13071-016-1440-6 -
Veterinary Medicine (Auckland, N.Z.) 2014is a parasitic nematode affecting the heart and pulmonary arteries of wild (eg, foxes) and domestic canids. The parasite has an indirect life cycle in which slugs and... (Review)
Review
is a parasitic nematode affecting the heart and pulmonary arteries of wild (eg, foxes) and domestic canids. The parasite has an indirect life cycle in which slugs and snails act as intermediate hosts. In the last few years the parasite has spread outside the traditional endemic foci, and there is a rise of documented cases of canine angiostrongylosis across Europe. causes cardiopulmonary disorders and coagulopathies, along with different nonspecific clinical signs. Fatal infections are frequently reported. Given the severity of the infection and the recent geographic spreading of the parasite, this article reviews and discusses the current knowledge of , with a special focus on recent insights on diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of dog angiostrongylosis.
PubMed: 32670858
DOI: 10.2147/VMRR.S53641 -
Parasites & Vectors Aug 2023Angiostrongylus cantonensis (rat lungworm) is the main pathogen responsible for eosinophilic meningitis in humans. One of its intermediate snail hosts, Achatina fulica,...
BACKGROUND
Angiostrongylus cantonensis (rat lungworm) is the main pathogen responsible for eosinophilic meningitis in humans. One of its intermediate snail hosts, Achatina fulica, was already present in many countries around the world before it appeared in the West Indies in the late 1980s. In the French territories in the Caribbean and northern South America, the first cases of human neuroangiostrongyliasis were reported in Martinique, Guadeloupe and French Guiana in 2002, 2013 and 2017, respectively. In order to better characterize angiostrongyliasis in Guadeloupe, particularly its geographical origin and route of introduction, we undertook molecular characterization of adult worms of Angiostrongylus cantonensis and its intermediate host Achatina fulica.
METHODS
Genomic DNA of adult Angiostrongylus cantonensis and Achatina fulica was extracted and amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) targeting the mitochondrial genes cytochrome B and C for A. cantonensis and 16S ribosomal RNA for A. fulica. The PCR products were sequenced and studied by phylogenetic analysis.
RESULTS
Cytochrome B and cytochrome C molecular markers indicate a monophyletic lineage of A. cantonensis adult worms in Guadeloupe. Two sequences of A. fulica were identified.
CONCLUSIONS
These results confirm the recent introduction of both Angiostrongylus cantonensis and Achatina fulica into Guadeloupe. Achatina fulica in Guadeloupe shares a common origin with those in Barbados and New Caledonia, while Angiostrongylus cantonensis in Guadeloupe shares a common origin with those in Brazil, Hawaii and Japan.
Topics: Adult; Rats; Humans; Animals; Angiostrongylus cantonensis; Phylogeny; Guadeloupe; Cytochromes b; Snails; Brazil; Strongylida Infections; Angiostrongylus
PubMed: 37563598
DOI: 10.1186/s13071-023-05872-4 -
Veterinary Parasitology Dec 2022Angiostrongylus vasorum is a widely distributed cardiopulmonary parasite of canids in Europe. Clinical signs in dogs can be highly variable and diagnostically...
Adult parasite burden and excretion of first-stage larvae of Angiostrongylus vasorum in dogs: Methodologically relevant diagnostic aspects and associations with serological detection of parasite antigen and specific antibodies.
Angiostrongylus vasorum is a widely distributed cardiopulmonary parasite of canids in Europe. Clinical signs in dogs can be highly variable and diagnostically challenging. A correct and early diagnosis is hence indispensable to adequately manage affected patients. First-stage larvae (L1) are excreted in the faeces of definitive hosts and conventionally identified using the Baermann technique. Moreover, ELISAs for the detection of circulating antigen and specific antibodies have been presented. The current study aimed at i) quantitatively assessing larval migration in the Baermann funnel after 12 h and 24 h; ii) investigating the influence of sample storage at 4 °C over the course of three days on the number of detected L1; iii) evaluating potential associations of adult worm burdens with larval shedding in dogs and ELISA optical density (OD) values for circulating parasite antigen and specific antibodies. Faecal samples were obtained from naturally infected dogs (n = 21) and Baermann funnels were set up in duplicate over the course of four consecutive days (days 0-3) starting with the day of sample collection. Funnels were harvested on days 1-4 after 12 and 24 h, respectively, and the number of L1 per gram faeces (LPG) was determined. The LPG did not differ between larval harvest after 12 h from harvest after 24 h. Storage of faecal samples at 4 °C for two and three days entailed a considerable decrease in LPG. Adult worm burdens and larval excretion data from previous experiments demonstrated a correlation between worm burden and LPG. In contrast, no correlations between worm burden and the level of parasite antigen and specific antibody OD values, respectively, were identified. Thus, OD values of both antigen and antibody ELISA did not allow for conclusions on infection intensity reflected by the number of adult parasites. For the detection of L1 in faeces, 12 or 24 h of larval migration time was not discriminating for A. vasorum positivity. Thus, early processing of faecal samples is essential, since larval detection and hence sensitivity of the approach considerably decreased over the course of three days of storage. Therefore, the common recommendation to collect faecal samples for three consecutive days and to subsequently analyse them needs to be reconsidered. The results of this study can be readily translated into precise recommendations for daily practice to adequately assess A. vasorum infected dogs.
Topics: Dogs; Animals; Angiostrongylus; Parasites; Larva; Strongylida Infections; Antibodies, Helminth; Antigens, Helminth; Dog Diseases
PubMed: 36274434
DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2022.109814 -
Memorias Do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz 2020Intermediate hosts are key organisms in maintaining parasite life cycles, because they can act as amplifiers in the transmission from natural reservoirs to humans. One... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Intermediate hosts are key organisms in maintaining parasite life cycles, because they can act as amplifiers in the transmission from natural reservoirs to humans. One of the most important groups of intermediate hosts for zoonotic nematode infections are gastropods,slugs and snails. These are essential organisms in the larval development of Angiostrongylus species.
OBJECTIVES
The objective of this paper is to review reports of Angiostrongylus spp. in naturally infected gastropods from the Americas, taking into account the diagnostic methods used in their identification, to be able to provide more accurate list of their intermediate hosts. We also discuss the factors that aid the dispersion of Angiostrongylus spp. in the Americas.
METHODS
This study reviews scientific publications and book sections on Angiostrongylus spp. in the Americas, including original works assessing larvae of Angiostrongylus in intermediate hosts. The eligible reports were classified accordingly to their geographical location, year of first record, and the larvae identification methodologies used. Digital repositories were used for the search. The bioecological characteristics of the main intermediate hosts are summarised.
FINDINGS
A total of 29 gastropod species that are naturally infected with Angiostrongylus spp. have been reported as intermediate hosts, 16 of which are land snails, two are freshwater snails, and 11 land slugs.
MAIN CONCLUSIONS
This study highlights the importance of integrative studies, analysing both the etiological agent and its transmission dynamic in the environment, the biological and ecological characteristics of the hosts, and the impact on host populations. It is necessary to increase interdisciplinary studies to determine the potential epidemiological health risk of angiostrongyliasis in the Americas, and thus be able to establish prevention, monitoring and contingency strategies in the region.
Topics: Americas; Angiostrongylus; Angiostrongylus cantonensis; Animals; Disease Vectors; Gastropoda; Humans; Snails; Strongylida Infections; Zoonoses
PubMed: 33263610
DOI: 10.1590/0074-02760200236 -
Pathogens (Basel, Switzerland) May 2023is the major etiological nematode parasite causing eosinophilic meningitis and/or eosinophilic meningoencephalitis in humans. The rapid global spread of and the...
is the major etiological nematode parasite causing eosinophilic meningitis and/or eosinophilic meningoencephalitis in humans. The rapid global spread of and the emerging occurrence of the infection have exposed the shortcomings of traditional/conventional diagnostics. This has spurred efforts to develop faster, simpler and more scalable platforms that can be decentralized for point-of-need laboratory testing. By far, the point-of-care immunoassays such as the lateral flow assay (LFA) are the best-placed. In this work, a LFA in the form of an immunochromatographic test device (designated AgQuick), based on the detection of a circulating -derived antigen, was established using anti-31 kDa antibody as the capture reagent and anti- polyclonal antibody as the indicator reagent. The AgQuick was evaluated for its diagnostic potential with a total of 20 cerebrospinal fluids (CSF) and 105 serum samples from patients with angiostrongyliasis and other clinically related parasitic diseases, as well as serum samples from normal healthy subjects. Three of the ten CSF samples from serologically confirmed angiostrongyliasis cases and two of the five suspected cases with negative anti- antibodies showed a positive AgQuick reaction. Likewise, the AgQuick was able to detect specific antigens in four serum samples of the 27 serologically confirmed angiostrongyliasis cases. No positive reaction by AgQuick was observed in any of the CSF ( = 5) and serum ( = 43) samples with other parasitic infections, or the normal healthy controls ( = 35). The AgQuick enabled the rapid detection of active/acute infection. It is easy to use, can be transported at room temperature and does not require refrigeration for long-term stability over a wide range of climate. It can supplement existing diagnostic tests for neuroangiostrongyliasis under clinical or field environments, particularly in remote and resource-poor areas.
PubMed: 37375452
DOI: 10.3390/pathogens12060762 -
Veterinary Parasitology Feb 2014Dogs are frequently infected by one or more species of endoparasites, which can lead to secondary infections that cause high morbidity and death. In this context, 2...
Dogs are frequently infected by one or more species of endoparasites, which can lead to secondary infections that cause high morbidity and death. In this context, 2 nematode species are of veterinary importance: Angiostrongylus vasorum, which is a parasite of the pulmonary artery and right ventricle in domestic and wild canids, and Ancylostoma caninum, which is a parasite of the small intestine in felids and domestic and wild canids. We used 20 mongrel dogs that were divided into groups and infected as follows: Group A included 5 uninfected dogs, Group B included 5 dogs infected with A. vasorum, Group C included 5 dogs infected with A. caninum, and Group D included 5 dogs co-infected with A. vasorum and A. caninum. Parasitological and hematological monitoring were performed. The counts of larvae and eggs shed in the feces varied throughout the collection period. Moreover, negativation was not observed in any of the infected groups. The animals in Group C had macrocytic and hypochromic anemia, whereas the animals in Group D had macrocytic and normochromic anemia. Infected dogs also presented with eosinophilia and lymphocytosis. These data from coproparasitological techniques provide an improved assessment of disease severity and a more thorough understanding of parasitism in the host.
Topics: Ancylostoma; Anemia; Angiostrongylus; Animals; Coinfection; Dog Diseases; Dogs; Feces; Female; Male; Random Allocation; Strongylida Infections
PubMed: 24373514
DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2013.12.003 -
Parasitology Jun 2021Angiostrongylus cantonensis is the main aetiological agent of eosinophilic meningoencephalitis in humans. Several outbreaks have been documented around the world,...
Angiostrongylus cantonensis is the main aetiological agent of eosinophilic meningoencephalitis in humans. Several outbreaks have been documented around the world, cementing its status as an emerging global public health concern. As a result, new strategies for the diagnosis, prophylaxis and treatment of cerebral angiostrongyliasis are urgently needed. In this study, we report on the de novo assembly of the A. cantonensis transcriptome, its full functional annotation and a reconstruction of complete metabolic pathways. All results are available at AngiostrongylusDB (http://angiostrongylus.lad.pucrs.br/admin/welcome). The aim of this study was to identify the active genes and metabolic pathways involved in the mechanisms of infection and survival inside Rattus norvegicus. Among 389 metabolic mapped pathways, the blood coagulation/antithrombin pathways of heparan sulphate/heparin are highlighted. Moreover, we identified genes codified to GP63 (leishmanolysin), CALR (calreticulin), ACE (peptidyl-dipeptidase A), myoglobin and vWD (von Willebrand factor type D domain protein) involved in the infection invasion and survival of the parasite. The large dataset of functional annotations provided and the full-length transcripts identified in this research may facilitate future functional genomics studies and provides a basis for the development of new techniques for the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of cerebral angiostrongyliasis.
Topics: Angiostrongylus cantonensis; Animals; Antithrombins; Blood Coagulation Factors; Female; Rats; Strongylida Infections; Transcriptome
PubMed: 33729108
DOI: 10.1017/S0031182021000469