Angiostrongyliasis Research Articles

High-dose enoxaparin in the treatment of abdominal angiostrongyliasis in Swiss mice

Abdominal angiostrongyliasis (AA) is caused by Angiostrongylus costaricensis, which inhabits mesenteric arteries. There is no drug treatment for AA, and since intestinal infarction due to thrombi is one of the main complications of the disease, the use of anticoagulants may be a treatment option. Thus, we aimed to assess the effect of high doses of enoxaparin on the prevention of ischaemic intestinal lesions and on the survival of mice infected with A. costaricensis. Twenty-four mice were infected with L3 of A. costaricensis and divided equally into two groups: Group 1, control treated with placebo, and Group 2, treated daily with enoxaparin (2.5 mg/kg) for 50 days. All mice were subjected to necropsy and histological analysis. The results from gross and microscopic assessments showed no variation in the prevalence of lesions between the groups. An analysis was also performed among survivors and non-survivors, showing that animals that died often presented lesions, such as granulation tissue in the serosa, and intestinal infarction and adhesion. The mortality rate did not vary between the enoxaparin-treated and control groups. Thus, we showed that high doses of enoxaparin have no protective effect against AA, as the survival rates and lesions of mice did not vary between the treated and control groups. Considering that the use of prophylactic doses was also shown to be ineffective in a previous study, we do not recommend the use of enoxaparin for AA treatment.

Eosinophilic meningitis caused by infection of Angiostrongylus cantonensis in a traveler

A 55-year-old female traveler returning from South China with acute onset of meningitis, presenting with eosinophilic pleocytosis in the cerebrospinal fluid was reported. The etiological diagnosis of angiostrongyliasis was confirmed by detection of specific serum antibody against Angiostrongylus cantonensis. Angiostrongyliasis should be considered as a major differential diagnosis for eosinophilic meningitis in the travelers to endemic regions.

Diagnosis of human angiostrongyliasis

Background: Angiostrongyliasis is caused by Angiostrongylus cantonensis or rat lungworm. Definitive diagnosis via recovery of the worm is uncommon. The diagnosis is done by a combination of methods. Objective: Review of available methods used in the diagnosis of angiostrongyliasis. Methods: We carried out a systematic review to document the available methods used in the diagnosis of angiostrongyliasis using MEDLINE as the main database supplemented by other resources. Results: At present, only a few cases of this disease are diagnosed by parasitological methods. Thus, more commonly, a diagnosis of A. cantonensis infection is made by the combination of clinical manifestations and a history of ingestion of intermediate or paratenic hosts. In addition, serodiagnosis, including an enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and immunoblot test are useful in assisting diagnosis of this disease. Conclusion: Further development of diagnostics for human angiostrongyliasis is needed for definite diagnosis of angiostrongyliasis Keywords: Angiostrongyliasis, Angiostrongylus cantonensis, diagnosis, eosinophilic meningitis

Study on distribution of cohere antigen of 12D5 and 21B7 monoclonal antibodies of Angiostrongylus cantonensis and its application of immnodiagnosis

Objective To detect infection of Angiostrongylus cantonensis and examine effection of treatment to prepare monoclonal antibodies(McAbs). Methods Six-week-old BALB/c mice were imrnunized by the intraperitoneal injection of e/s antigens of Angiostrongylus cantonensis. Fusion of splecn cells from immunized mice with prepared SP2/0-Ag14 myeloma cells was performed in RPMI 1640. Fused cells were suspended in RPMI 1640 containing 1% HAT and 20% fetal calf serum and dispensed into 96-well cell culture plates. The supernatants of clones were screened by ELISA with sera of patients of angiostrongyliasis.Distribution of cohere antigen of 12D5 and 21B7 monoclonal antibodies was analyzed with immunohistochemistry. Two McAbs ( 12D5 and 21B7) were applied to detect the circulating antigen (CAg) in the sera of rats infected with A. cantonensis and angiostrongyliasis patients respectively by double antibody sandwich ELISA.Results 12D5 McAb was identified as IgG1 and 21 B7 McAb was IgM. Western blot result showed two McAbs could used to identified 55 × 103 protein of adult worms of A. cantonensis. Cohere antigen of 12D5 and 21B7 monoclonal antibodies were distributed on intestine surface of A. cantonensis. The detection rates of CAg in the sera of infected rats 100% (48/48), the detection rates of CAg in the sera of angiostrongyliasis patients was 100% (32/32). No cross-reaction to sera of patients with other infection of parasites, such as clonochiasis, fasiolopsiasis, ancylostomiasis, trichinosis, anisakiasis as well as schsitosomiasis, and health srea did not reacted with 12D5 and 21B7 McAbs,and detaction rate of antibody of angiostrongyliasis patients only reached 75% (24/32) with antigen of A. cantonensis. Conclusion Cohere antigen of 12D5 and 21B7monoclonal antibodies were antigens of enteric epithelium. Sandwich ELISA with 12D5 and 21B7 McAbs showed high specificity act as detecting CAg of A. cantonensis in sera of infection animal and patients. It is apparent that Sandwich ELISA with 12D5 and 21 B7 is not only rapid and simple without requirement of special instrument, but also rather sensitive and specific for the detection of current infection with A. cantonensis. Key words: Angiostrongylus cantonensis; Monoclonal antibodies; Sandwich ELISA; Antigen distribution analysis

Clinical features and nursing main points of angiostrongyliasis cantonensis

目的 增强对广州管圆线虫病的临床特征和护理要点的认识.方法 对我院收治的广州管圆线虫病患者的临床资料和护理体会进行总结.结果 患者发病前有生吃螺肉的流行病史,有头痛、发热、恶心、呕吐、颈部僵直感、皮肤异常感觉等临床症状,血液、脑脊液中嗜酸性粒细胞增高.针对本病的特点,尤其要强调心理护理、疼痛护理、用药护理、腰穿护理及健康教育等.结论 加强对广州管圆线虫病患者的护理,有助于患者的配合治疗和康复。