Health implications of the finding of Angiostrongylus cantonensis, the main cause of eosinophilic meningoencephalitis, in continental Europe (Valencia, Spain)

perspectiva31_fuentes_saez_bueno_galan

Authors

  • Màrius Vicent Fuentes i Ferrer Grupo de Investigación Parásitos y Salud; Facultat de Farmàcia; Universitat de València. Burjassot (València). España. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9508-6390
  • Sandra Sáez-Durán Grupo de Investigación Parásitos y Salud; Facultat de Farmàcia; Universitat de València. Burjassot (València). España.
  • Rubén Bueno-Marí Grupo de Investigación Parásitos y Salud; Facultat de Farmàcia; Universitat de València. Burjassot (València). España. / Laboratorios Lokimica. Paterna (València). España. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4898-8519
  • María Teresa Galán-Puchades Grupo de Investigación Parásitos y Salud; Facultat de Farmàcia; Universitat de València. Burjassot (València). España. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6712-9461

Keywords:

Angiostrongylus cantonensis, Eosinophilic meningoencephalitis

Abstract

The rat pulmonary artery nematode, Angiostrongylus cantonensis (discovered in rats from the province of Canton, southern China, in 1933) is the main cause in humans of what is known as eosinophilic meningoencephalitis (EEM), with around 3,000 confirmed cases in various parts of the world.

The biological cycle of A. cantonensis is indirect, involving a definitive host, which houses the adult forms, and an intermediate host, which houses the larvae. Rats of several species, primarily the sewer rat, Rattus norvegicus, and the black rat, Rattus rattus, serve as natural definitive hosts. Different species of snails act as intermediate hosts, such as the giant African land snail, Acathina fulica, or the aquatic one, Pomacea canaliculata (apple snail), as well as several species of slugs. However, once the parasite establishes itself in a given geographic area, other native snails and slugs may be included in its cycle.

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Published

2023-11-08

How to Cite

1.
Fuentes i Ferrer MV, Sáez-Durán S, Bueno-Marí R, Galán-Puchades MT. Health implications of the finding of Angiostrongylus cantonensis, the main cause of eosinophilic meningoencephalitis, in continental Europe (Valencia, Spain): perspectiva31_fuentes_saez_bueno_galan. Rev Esp Salud Pública [Internet]. 2023 Nov. 8 [cited 2024 Nov. 23];97:6 páginas. Available from: https://ojs.sanidad.gob.es/index.php/resp/article/view/178

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