Angiostrongylus cantonensis: Agent of a Sometimes Fatal Globally Emerging Infectious Disease (Rat Lungworm Disease).
ACS Chem Neurosci
; 8(10): 2102-2104, 2017 10 18.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-28902487
ABSTRACT
Angiostrongylus cantonensis, the rat lungworm, is a dangerous invasive species that is the agent of a potentially fatal globally emerging infectious disease. Humans are infected most commonly by ingestion, deliberately or inadvertently, of the parasite larvae in their intermediate snail hosts. The larvae make their way to the brain where they can cause severe neurological damage before eventually dying. Symptoms of the disease are diverse, making it difficult to diagnose. Treatment is primarily with corticosteroids to reduce inflammation, while treatment with anthelmintics to kill the worms remains controversial. There have been almost 3000 cases globally, the majority in southern China, but the parasite is spreading and now occurs much more widely. In the USA, almost all cases have been in Hawaii, but the parasite is also present in southeastern states. As the climate warms, this tropical/subtropical parasite is likely to spread further.
Palabras clave
Texto completo:
1
Colección:
01-internacional
Banco de datos:
MEDLINE
Asunto principal:
Caracoles
/
Infecciones por Strongylida
/
Angiostrongylus cantonensis
/
Enfermedades Transmisibles Emergentes
Límite:
Animals
/
Humans
Idioma:
En
Revista:
ACS Chem Neurosci
Año:
2017
Tipo del documento:
Article
País de afiliación:
Estados Unidos