Angiostrongylus Research Articles

Eosinophilic Meningoencephalitis Due to Angiostrongylus cantonensis Presenting as Fever of Unknown Origin

A previously healthy 19 month old female, former 34-week gestational age, was admitted to the acute care floor after a one month history of daily fevers to 39.4 C-40.0 C and new onset ataxia. She was seen on multiple occasions by her pediatrician for fever, initially diagnosed with a viral illness, and later completed a ten day course of amoxicillin for otitis media. Along with persistent daily fevers, she was noted by her mother to be progressively more irritable and off-balance, progressing to the point that she was unable to ambulate. She was living in Houston, …

Parasites of sheep herding dogs in central Germany.

This paper reports on endoparasite infections diagnosed in 2012 by standard coproscopical techniques and coproantigen Giardia ELISA in 165 dogs used for sheep herding in 36 farms in central Germany. The overall prevalence of dogs with evidence of endoparasite infections was 27.3% (95% CI 20.6-34.7). The most frequently identified faecal forms were those of ascarids (Toxocara, 6.7%; Toxascaris 3.6%), hookworms (5.5%) and taeniid cestodes (4.2%), followed by those of Trichuris whipworms (3.0%), Capillaria aerophila (1.8%), Angiostrongylus and Crenosoma lungworms (1.2% each) and Cystoisospora canis coccidians (0.6%). Molecular identification demonstrated the seven dogs shedding taeniid eggs positive for Taenia (T.) species tapeworms (five, T. hydatigena; one, T. ovis; one Taenia sp.). Screening of the faeces with the coproantigen ELISA revealed Giardia specific antigen in 5.5% of the samples. The majority of the dogs had evidence of single endoparasite infections (22.4%) while evidence for infection with two or three parasites concurrently was found in six (3.6%) and two (1.2%) of the dogs, respectively. Dogs ≤ 1 year (n = 19) were parasitized more frequently (p < 0.05) with overall gastrointestinal parasites (63.2% vs. 20.5%), ascarids (36.8% vs. 6.8%) and Giardia spp. (21.1% vs. 3.4%) than older dogs (n = 146). Dogs which had been wormed within six months of examination tested less frequently positive for gastrointestinal helminths compared to dogs not wormed (11.1% vs. 25.0%; p = 0.0567). In addition, ear swabs taken from 43 sheep dogs in 2012 were examined, and Otodectes cynotis mites were extracted from one dog. Identification of ectoparasites collected by full body search and combing from 113 sheep dogs in the years 2011 to 2013 revealed infestation of fleas and ticks (each up to five specimens per dog) on 13 and 108 dogs, respectively, with nine dogs carrying both fleas and ticks. Archaeopsylla erinacei, Ctenocephalides (C) canis, C. felis and Pulex irritans fleas were identified from one, three, two and eleven dogs, respectively. Dermacentor reticulatus, Ixodes (I.) hexagonus and I. ricinus ticks were isolated from 16, eight and 95 dogs, respectively.

Prevalencia de larvas de angiostrongylus costaricensis (nematoda: angiostrongylidae) en babosas vaginulus plebeius (mollusca:veronicellidae) de Costa Rica

Slugs (Vaginulus plebeius) random collections were conducted during the rainiest months of the year between September 2001 and October 2007 in order to evaluate the prevalence of the parasite Angiostrongylus costaricensis in these Mollusca in their natural environment, and the risk involved for the population. Samples were taken at 50 of the 81 cantons of the country, for a total sample of 8870, finding a 3.9% infected mollusca. 48% of the cantons showed positive mollusca, San Jose was the province with the highest percentage of infection (5.7 %) and the lowest at Carthage 1.3%. as to the cantons Alajuelita was the city with the highest prevalence (27.4%). Finding a decrease in infection levels reported in the decades of the eighties and nineties (44%-69%), possibly due to the sampling technique and population changes over the last 25 years.

Analysis and identification of peptide epitope of the fifth stage larvae of Angiostrongylus cantonensis

To identify the specific antigens of the fifth stage larvae (larvae V) of Angiostrongylus cantonensis in soluble proteins. The techniques of two-dimensional electrophoresis (2-DE) and immunoblot were employed to analyze the soluble components of larvae V antigens. The resulting protein spots were identified by mass spectrometry and the specific antigen and immunogenic peptide segment profiles determined.Larvae V was identified by immunoblot of peptide immune murine sera. Immunoblot of 2-DE showed that there were 8 specific antigen spots in females and 4 in males of larvae V. The 12 protein spots had a pH range of 5-7 and a molecular weight of 24-40 kD. Among 12 spot, actin-1 and galectin-1 were identified successfully. And a peptide (NH2-KNGDIALHFNPRFDEK) was predicted as epitope and synthesized. The binding capacity of murine immune sera could identify the 32 000 of larvae V. Galectin and actin are common antigens of female and male larvae V of A.cantonensis. And a peptide from galectin-1 may become a potential target for immunologic diagnosis and immunological mediator.

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

A survey of infection with Angiostrongylus cantonensis around Erhai Lake in Dali, Yunnan province

广州管圆线虫(Angiostrongylus cantonensis)是动物寄生虫,终宿主为哺乳动物,主要是鼠类,中间宿主是陆生螺类或淡水螺类,如福寿螺、玛瑙螺等[1,2].人常因生食或半生食含有广州管圆线虫Ⅲ期幼虫的螺肉而感染,幼虫在人体内多停留在中枢神经系统,可导致嗜酸性粒细胞增多性脑炎或脑膜脑炎,严重者可导致死亡.近年来,随着人们生活水平的不断提高、饮食结构的变化和与外界接触的增多,广州管圆线虫病病例数迅速增加.大理市洱海周边居民素有食用螺类的习惯.因此,为了解该地区广州管圆线虫疫源地的分布和近期当地居民感染状况,本课题组于2009年10月至2010年10月,对该地区广州管圆线虫的中间宿主福寿螺以及当地居民喜食的洱海螺等感染源进行初步调查. 关键词：广州管圆线虫;感染源;洱海周边

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

Neuroimmunological findings from the first report of Angiostrongylus cantonensis outbreak in Ecuador

Neuroimmunological findings from the first report of Angiostrongylus cantonensis outbreak in Ecuador

Angiostrongylus costaricensis n. sp. (Nematoda: Metastrongyloidea), a new lungworm occuring in man in Costa Rica. 1971.

Angiostrongylus costaricensis n. sp. is described from Costa Rica where il produces lesions in the abdominal cavity of man. It can be distinguished from other species of the genus on the basis of its size, the length of the spicules, the position of the vulva and the morphology and position of the bursal rays. The parasite localizes in the small mesenteric arteries, especially in the ileocecal region, where it produces arteritis and thrombosis. Eggs in various stages of embryooation were found scattered in the tissues of the intestinal wall and regional lymph nodes, eliciting a granulomatous inflammatory reaction with in­ tense eosinophilic infiltration.

Helminths in the wolf, Canis lupus, from north-western Spain.

Fifteen helminth species were collected from 47 wolves (Canis lupus ) which were surveyed from 1993 to 1999 in northwestern Spain. These included the trematode Alaria alata (2.1%); the cestodes Taenia hydatigena (44.7%), T. multiceps (29.8%), T. serialis (2.1%), Dipylidium caninum (6.4%) and Mesocestoides sp. aff. litteratus (4.2%); and the nematodes Pearsonema plica (7.4%), Trichuris vulpis (10.6%), Trichinella britovi (12.8%), Ancylostoma caninum (8.5%), Uncinaria stenocephala (51.1%), Toxocara canis (6.4%) Toxascaris leonina (4.2%), Angiostrongylus vasorum (2.1%) and Dirofilaria immitis (2.1%). Only two wolves were not infected. A single infection occurred in 28.9% of the cases, but the commonest infracommunity (31.1%) involved three species. The helminths Alaria alata, Taenia hydatigena, Mesocestoides sp. aff. litteratus, P. plica, Trichuris vulpis, and Ancylostoma caninum parasitizing C. lupus are reported for the first time in Spain. Taenia serialis and D. immitis are reported for the first time in wolves in Europe. Angiostrongylus vasorum represents a new host record for wolves. The helminth fauna of Spanish wolves is compared with that of other European wolf populations. Some epidemiological considerations of the helminth fauna of wolves in Spain and the health risk to humans are also discussed.

Humoral immune responses in mice infected with gamma-irradiated third-stage larvae of Angiostrongylus cantonensis.

Humoral immune responses in C57BL/6 strain mice infected with 1.0 kGy gamma-irradiated third-stage larvae (L3) and with non-gamma-irradiated L3 of Angiostrongylus cantonensis were assessed in this study. The young-adult worm (L5) antigen-specific antibodies in sera of both groups of mice elevated gradually and reached a peak in the third week after infection. The IgM antibodies of mice 1-week after infection with gamma-irradiated L3 and with non-gamma-irradiated L3 recognized several L5 antigens of the same molecular weight. However, only partially identical profiles were observed in the reaction of L5 antigens with IgM and IgG antibodies from mice 3 weeks after infection with gamma-irradiated L3 and with non-gamma-irradiated L3 respectively by western blot analysis. With regard to antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity, antibodies from 3-week infected mice significantly increased the adherence of mouse eosinophils and neutrophils to L3 of A. cantonensis. The immunoresponses of splenic cells from mice in the third week of infection to sheep red blood cells were suppressed because the number of plaque forming cells obviously decreased more than the uninfected control.

P-946 - Influence of PF1022A on the motility of Angiostrongylus cantonensis in vitro.

P-946 - Influence of PF1022A on the motility of Angiostrongylus cantonensis in vitro.

Anthelmintic effect of levamisole against Angiostrongylus cantonensis in mice.

Levamisole, in dosages of 2.5, 5, 10, and 25 mg/kg/day, was given orally by orogastric tube beginning 5, 10, 15, and 20 days after the infection of ICR mice with 50 third-stage larvae of Angiostrongylus cantonensis. Medication was given for 7, 14 or 21 consecutive days. The mice in each group were sacrificed 3 days after cessation of treatment and the brains were examined for parasites. Complete anthelmintic effects could be obtained when treatment was started 10 days post-infection with dosages as low as 2.5 mg/kg/day for 21 consecutive days. Over 90% worm reduction was achieved in the two-week treatment group with medication beginning 5 days after infection at diverse dosages. High dose were given in the treatment groups beginning 15 days post-infection. When the commencement of medication was delayed to 20 days post-infection, worm reduction rates were around 50% in spite of long periods and/or high dosages of medication.

Acquired Resistance and Immune Responses of Eight Strains of Inbred Rats to Infection with Angiostrongylus cantonensis

8系統(ACI/N, Buffalo, Lewis, NIG III, Tokyo, Wistar-King-A, Wistar-King-S, Wistar/Mishima)の近交系ラットに広東住血線虫(Angiostrongylus cantonensis)を感染させ, 10週後に攻撃感染を行ない, 攻撃感染防御能, ならびにレアギン抗体と間接血球凝集(IHA)抗体の産生能を比較した. その結果, BuffaloとACI/Nでは他の系統より攻撃感染防御能が低く, これに対してTokyoとNIG IIIでは防御能の高いことがわかった. 残りの4系統も多かれ少かれ獲得免疫を産生したが, その程度は前述の4系統の中間的なものであった. 本虫の感染に対するレアギン抗体の産生パターンには系統間で著しい差異が認められた. すなわち, Tokyoはレアギン抗体のhigh responderであり, ACI/Nはlow responderであった. 一方, IHA抗体の産生パターンは系統間で酷似していた. しかし, TokyoやNIG IIIでは一般に他の系統よりIHA抗体価が高かった. ACI/NとNIG IIIについて肺の病変を比較したところ, ACI/Nでは肺の虫卵結節周囲に線維化がほとんど認められず, このことはNIC IIIとの著しい相違点であった. 以上の成績は, 広東住血線虫感染に対するラットの攻撃感染防御能やレアギン抗体産生能は遺伝的支配を受けていることを示唆するものと思われる.

Observations on the role of mollusks and planarians in the transmission of Angiostrongylus cantonensis infection to man in New Caledonia.

Observations from October 1965 to May 1967, on the role played by mollusks and other invertebrates in the transmission of Angiostrongylus cantonensis infection to man on the South Pacific island of New Caledonia revealed that various snails, slugs and a planarian, ocurring in gardens supplying considerable amounts of edible green vegetation to local markets, were commonly infected with third-stage larvae of A. cantonensis . The veronicellid slugs, Vaginulus plebeius and Laevicaulus alte , were the most frequently and intensively infected mollusks and they probably serve as the chief reservoir of infection for feral rats. The high level of infection in these slugs not only results in maintaining a large population of infected rats but is of importance in the dispersal of infective larvae into planarians serving as paratenic hosts for the parasite. There is no apparent seasonal diference in the rate and level of infection among the slugs, although they have a dormant period during the cooler months (July to September) of the year. It is suggested that planarians are probably the single most important source of human infection in New Caledonia. The planarians show a marked seasonal occurrence, reaching their peak during the cool months of the year, which corresponds to the peak vegetable growing season. Their highly carnivorous habits in their attacking of both snails and slugs results in a high level of infection although individual planarians harbor relatively low numbers of larvae, usually less than 10. Their small size, their ability to fragment easily, and their rapid dehydration to form inconspicuous black masses contaminating lettuce and other vegetables make them an ideal vehicle for the transmission of A. cantonensis to man.