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Medecine Et Sante Tropicales Feb 2018Angiostrongyliasis, the leading cause worldwide of eosinophilic meningitis, is an emergent disease due to Angiostrongylus cantonensis larvae, transmitted accidentally to... (Review)
Review
Angiostrongyliasis, the leading cause worldwide of eosinophilic meningitis, is an emergent disease due to Angiostrongylus cantonensis larvae, transmitted accidentally to humans. Contamination of children usually occurs by direct contact with an infected mollusk. Eosinophilic meningoencephalitis is the major clinical feature of this parasitic infection in humans. It is usually benign for adults, but more severe for children. Clinical symptoms usually combine fever, meningitis, and neurological signs (somnolence, moaning, hypotonia, convulsions, and increased intracranial pressure). Presumptive diagnosis of human angiostrongyliasis is based on epidemiologic characteristics, clinical symptoms, medical history, and laboratory findings, in particular, hypereosinophilia in blood and cerebrospinal fluid. Treatment is based on corticosteroids associated with anthelmintics. This work reviews the diagnosis and treatment of this life-threatening (especially in children) parasitic disease and the need for preventive action.
Topics: Child; Humans; Meningitis; Strongylida Infections
PubMed: 29616650
DOI: 10.1684/mst.2018.0756 -
Pathogens (Basel, Switzerland) Oct 2023Angiostrongyliasis is a parasitic disease caused by larvae of the genus , with and being the two main species causing diseases in humans [...].
Angiostrongyliasis is a parasitic disease caused by larvae of the genus , with and being the two main species causing diseases in humans [...].
PubMed: 37887730
DOI: 10.3390/pathogens12101214 -
Parasitology Feb 2021
Topics: Angiostrongylus cantonensis; Animals; Humans; Meningoencephalitis; Strongylida Infections
PubMed: 33315004
DOI: 10.1017/S003118202000236X -
One Health (Amsterdam, Netherlands) Dec 2022The nematode parasite (rat lungworm) has a complex life cycle involving rats (definitive hosts) and gastropods (intermediate hosts), as well as various paratenic hosts.... (Review)
Review
The nematode parasite (rat lungworm) has a complex life cycle involving rats (definitive hosts) and gastropods (intermediate hosts), as well as various paratenic hosts. Humans become infected and develop rat lungworm disease (neuroangiostrongyliasis) when they consume intermediate or paratenic hosts containing the infective parasite larvae. This study synthesizes knowledge of paratenic hosts of and investigates their role in causing human neuroangiostrongyliasis worldwide. A literature review was conducted by searching PubMed, JSTOR and Scopus, pooling additional information from sources accumulated over many years by RHC, and snowball searching. The review identified 138 relevant articles published between 1962 and 2022. Freshwater prawns/shrimp, crayfish, crabs, flatworms, fish, sea snakes, frogs, toads, newts, lizards, centipedes, cattle, pigs and snails were reported to act as paratenic hosts in various regions including South and Southeast Asia, Pacific islands, the USA and the Caribbean, as well as experimentally. Human cases of neuroangiostrongyliasis have been reported from the 1960s onwards, linked, sometimes speculatively, to consumption of freshwater prawns/shrimp, crabs, flatworms, fish, frogs, toads, lizards and centipedes. The potential of paratenic hosts to cause neuroangiostrongyliasis depends on whether they are eaten, how frequently they are consumed, the preparation method, including whether eaten raw or undercooked, and whether they are consumed intentionally or accidentally. It also depends on infection prevalence in the host populations and probably on how high the parasite load is in the consumed hosts. To prevent human infections, it is crucial to interrupt the transmission of rat lungworm to humans, from both intermediate hosts and frequently consumed paratenic hosts, by adhering to safe food preparation protocols. Educating the general public and the medical community about this largely neglected tropical/subtropical disease is key.
PubMed: 36277113
DOI: 10.1016/j.onehlt.2022.100426 -
Biomedica : Revista Del Instituto... Jun 2019Introduction: Angiostrongylus cantonensis is a serious public health problem and is widely distributed in the country. When the parasite infects the snails, it becomes... (Review)
Review
Introduction: Angiostrongylus cantonensis is a serious public health problem and is widely distributed in the country. When the parasite infects the snails, it becomes deeply embedded in their interior and accidentally, it can infect people and other mammals. Objective: To establish the geographical distribution of A. cantonensis intermediate hosts (Achatina fulica) and definitive hosts (Rattus spp.) in Ecuador from 2014 to 2017. Materials and methods: We collected 2,908 A. fulica specimens in 16 provinces using the capture method per unit of effort for 30 minutes. We captured 211 hosts of which 20 were Rattus rattus and 191 R. norvegicus. The specimens were transported to the Instituto Nacional de Salud Pública e Investigación in Guayaquil where the larvae L3 were identified and counted in the tissues of the snail, which were then inoculated in laboratory rats to reproduce the life cycle. In the rodents, the brains, hearts, lung arteries and lungs were dissected, and the parasites were identified by taxonomic morphology. Results: Of the snails harvested, 441 were positive for A. cantonensis (15.2%) and a total of 6,166 L3 larvae were found; 77 (36.5%) specimens of Rattus spp., were infected with A. cantonensis and a total of 220 parasites (L4-L5 larvae and adult worms) were collected. Conclusions: We confirmed the presence of A. cantonensis in several provinces, which ratifies the endemic nature of this zoonosis in the national territory. Rattus spp. specimens constitute the definitive hosts of the parasite, which together with the presence of intermediate hosts, indicates the zoonotic potential of this parasitic infection.
Topics: Angiostrongylus cantonensis; Animals; Animals, Wild; Disease Reservoirs; Disease Vectors; Ecuador; Female; Geography, Medical; Introduced Species; Larva; Life Cycle Stages; Rats; Rodent Diseases; Snails; Species Specificity; Strongylida Infections; Zoonoses
PubMed: 31529823
DOI: 10.7705/biomedica.v39i3.4387 -
Parasites & Vectors Mar 2018The gastropod-borne nematodes Angiostrongylus vasorum and Aelurostrongylus abstrusus are global causes of cardio/pulmonary diseases in dogs and cats. In the last decade,... (Review)
Review
The gastropod-borne nematodes Angiostrongylus vasorum and Aelurostrongylus abstrusus are global causes of cardio/pulmonary diseases in dogs and cats. In the last decade, the number of reports on canine and feline lungworms has increased in several areas of Europe and North America. The unspecific clinical signs and prolonged course of these diseases often renders diagnosis challenging. Both infections are considered as emerging and underestimated causes of disease in domestic pets. In South America, little information is available on these diseases, apart from occasional reports proving the principle presence of A. vasorum and A. abstrusus. Thus, the purpose of this review is to summarize reports on infections in both domestic and wildlife animals in South America and to increase the awareness on gastropod-borne metastrongyloid parasites, which also include important zoonotic species, such as A. cantonensis and A. costaricensis. This review highlights the usefulness of diagnostic tools, such as the Baermann funnel technique, serology and PCR, and proposes to include these routinely on cases with clinical suspicion for lungworm infections. Future national epidemiological surveys are recommended to be conducted to gain a deeper insight into the actual epidemiological situation of gastropod-borne parasitoses in South America.
Topics: Animals; Animals, Domestic; Animals, Wild; Communicable Diseases, Emerging; Metastrongyloidea; Neglected Diseases; South America; Strongylida Infections
PubMed: 29587811
DOI: 10.1186/s13071-018-2765-0 -
Emerging Infectious Diseases Jun 2022Neural angiostrongyliasis is an emerging zoonosis caused by the rat lungworm, Angiostrongylus cantonensis. In humans, infection with this nematode often results in...
Neural angiostrongyliasis is an emerging zoonosis caused by the rat lungworm, Angiostrongylus cantonensis. In humans, infection with this nematode often results in eosinophilic meningitis and other severe disorders of the central nervous system. Europe was deemed a nonendemic region until 2018, when A. cantonensis worms were detected on the Mediterranean island of Mallorca, Spain, a tourism hotspot. Since that time, a sentinel surveillance system and a molecular approach have been used to follow the invasion path of the rat lungworm on the island. A. cantonensis worms have been found in animals from 8 locations on the island over 3 consecutive years. Our preliminary results show a recognizable pattern of clinical signs in infected hedgehogs and a single mitochondrial haplotype circulating in Mallorca. We present strong evidence confirming that the rat lungworm has successfully established and colonized an island in Europe and discuss observations and possible strategies for its early detection across continental Europe.
Topics: Angiostrongylus cantonensis; Animals; Meningitis; Nematoda; Rats; Spain; Strongylida Infections
PubMed: 35608603
DOI: 10.3201/eid2806.212344 -
Infectious Diseases of Poverty Nov 2023Gastropoda, the largest class within the phylum Mollusca, houses diverse gut microbiota, and some gastropods serve as intermediate hosts for parasites. Studies have... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Gastropoda, the largest class within the phylum Mollusca, houses diverse gut microbiota, and some gastropods serve as intermediate hosts for parasites. Studies have revealed that gut bacteria in gastropods are associated with various biological aspects, such as growth, immunity and host-parasite interactions. Here, we summarize our current knowledge of gastropod gut microbiomes and highlight future research priorities and perspectives.
METHODS
A literature search was undertaken using PubMed, Web of Science and CNKI for the articles on the gut microbiota of gastropods until December 31, 2022. We retrieved a total of 166 articles and identified 73 eligible articles for inclusion in this review based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria.
RESULTS
Our analysis encompassed freshwater, seawater and land snails, with a specific focus on parasite-transmitting gastropods. We found that most studies on gastropod gut microbiota have primarily utilized 16S rRNA gene sequencing to analyze microbial composition, rather than employing metagenomic, metatranscriptomic, or metabolomic approaches. This comprehensive review provided an overview of the parasites carried by snail species in the context of gut microbiota studies. We presented the gut microbial trends, a comprehensive summary of the diversity and composition, influencing factors, and potential functions of gastropod gut microbiota. Additionally, we discussed the potential applications, research gaps and future perspectives of gut microbiomes in parasite-transmitting gastropods. Furthermore, several strategies for enhancing our comprehension of gut microbiomes in snails were also discussed.
CONCLUSIONS
This review comprehensively summarizes the current knowledge on the composition, potential function, influencing factors, potential applications, limitations, and challenges of gut microbiomes in gastropods, with a specific emphasis on parasite-transmitting gastropods. These findings provide important insights for future studies aiming to understand the potential role of gastropod gut microbiota in controlling snail populations and snail-borne diseases.
Topics: Animals; Parasites; Gastrointestinal Microbiome; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S; Snails; Host-Parasite Interactions
PubMed: 38001502
DOI: 10.1186/s40249-023-01159-z -
Parasitology Nov 2022causes a form of parasitic meningitis in humans. Albendazole (ABZ) kills nematode larvae in the brain. However, dead larvae can trigger a severe inflammatory response,...
causes a form of parasitic meningitis in humans. Albendazole (ABZ) kills nematode larvae in the brain. However, dead larvae can trigger a severe inflammatory response, resulting in brain damage. Accumulating evidence suggests that calycosin represents a potential anti-inflammatory therapeutic candidate. In this study, we investigated the combined effects of ABZ and calycosin in angiostrongyliasis caused by in BALB/c mice. Inflammatory mediators (such as phospho-nuclear factor-B, cyclooxygenase-2, matrix metalloproteinase-9, tumour necrosis factor- and interleukin-1) are associated with the development of meningitis and immune inflammatory reactions. We found that significantly induces inflammatory mediator production and increases the blood–brain barrier (BBB) permeability. However, co-administration of both ABZ and calycosin markedly suppressed meningitis and inflammatory mediator production and decreased the BBB permeability compared to treatment with a single drug. Furthermore, calycosin and ABZ plus calycosin treatment facilitated production of the antioxidant haem oxygenase-1 (HO-1). Moreover, co-therapy with ABZ and calycosin failed to mitigate angiostrongyliasis in the presence of tin-protoporphyrin IX, an HO-1-specific inhibitor. This finding suggests that the beneficial effects of ABZ plus calycosin treatment on the regulation of inflammation are mediated by the modulation of HO-1 activation. The present results provide new insights into the treatment of human angiostrongyliasis using co-therapy with ABZ and calycosin.
PubMed: 36341547
DOI: 10.1017/S0031182022001408