First record of molluscs naturally infected with Angiostrongylus cantonensis (Chen, 1935) (Nematoda: Metastrongylidae) in Brazil.

Author(s): Roberta Lima Caldeira, Cristiane LGF Mendonça, Christiane Oliveira Goveia, Henrique L Lenzi, Carlos Graeff-Teixeira, Walter S Lima, Ester M Mota, Iracy Lea Pecora, Aline Maria Zigiotto de Medeiros, Omar dos Santos Carvalho

Publication date: 2007-10-31

Journal: Memórias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz

Keywords: Adult, Angiostrongylus cantonensis, genetics, isolation & purification, Animals, Brazil, Disease Vectors, Female, Humans, Infant, Male, Meningoencephalitis, diagnosis, parasitology, Polymerase Chain Reaction, Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length, Rats, Snails

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Abstract

Seeking the identification of Angiostrongylus cantonensis as a potential etiological agent of three clinical cases of eosinophilic meningitis, mollusc specimens were collected in the state of Espírito Santo, Brazil. The snails were identified as Sarasinula marginata (45 specimens), Subulina octona (157), Achatina fulica (45) and Bradybaena similaris (23). Larvae obtained were submitted to polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphism diagnosis. Their genetic profile were corresponded to A. cantonensis. Rattus norvegicus experimentally infected with third-stage larvae, developed menigoencephalitis, and parasites became sexually mature in the lungs. Additionally, larvae obtained from A. fulica snails, from São Vicente, state of São Paulo, also showed genetic profiles of this nematode. This is the first record of Brazilian molluscs infected with this nematode species.