Classification: ICD-9 128.8; ICD-10 B83.2
Syndromes and synonyms: Eosinophilic meningoencephalitis, angiostrongyliasis
Agent: Angiostrongylus cantonensis, a nematode lungworm of rats. Adult worms are 17 to 25 mm long. Angiostrongylus costaricensis is the causal agent of abdominal, or intestinal, angiostrongyliasis and is not shown on the map. Other pathogens, like Gnathostoma spinigerum, are able to cause eosinophilic meningitis, but are not shown on the map.
Reservoir: Rats (Rattus, particularly R. norvegicus and Bandicotta spp.). Infected dogs, wild mammals, and marsupials have been found, but do not contribute to the spread of the disease.
Vector: Snails, slugs, and land planarians. The giant African snail, Achatina fulica, is the major source of infection world wide; but has been replaced by the imported South American golden apple snail, Pomacea canaliculata, in Taiwan and mainland China.
Transmission: Consumption of raw or undercooked vector molluscs, infested vegetables or vegetable juice, or other fresh water related food.
Cycle
Related posts:
Stay updated, free articles. Join our Telegram channel
Full access? Get Clinical Tree
