Report of ezootic Angiostronglyus cantonesis from Jamaica [ABSTRACT]
West Indian med. j
; 50(Suppl 5): 16, Nov. 2001.
Article
in English
| MedCarib
| ID: med-155
Responsible library:
JM3.1
Localization: JM3.1; R18.W4
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE:
To study the status of infection with Angiostrongylus cantonensis in wild rats and snails in Jamaica following an outbreak of eosinophilic meningitis amongst tourists.METHODS:
One hundred and thirty-one Rattus rattus and 94 R norvegicus were collected, mainly from the eastern portion of Jamaica. The animals were dissected and the heart and pulmonary arteries explored to reveal A cantonensis. Similarly, several species of land snails were collected. A portion of the head/foot was excised, fragmented and placed in separate dishes of digestion fluid (0.01 percent pepsin in 0.7 percent v/v aqeous HCI). Dishes were examined for nematode larvae 4-5 hours and 24 hours post-digestion. A microscopical comparison of larvae with museum specimens confirmed identification.RESULTS:
Overall, significantly more R rattus (42.7 percent) than R morvegicus (21.3 percent) were infected (x2=11.28;p<0.0001). Considering only those parishes where 15 or more rats were collected (Hanover, Manchester, St.James, St. Elizabeth, Kingston and St.Andrew, and Portland) the prevalence of rodent infections ranged from 6 to 59 percent. Of three snails and one slug species collected, only Thelidomus asper harboured A cantonensis larvae. This snail was collected from Manchester where the highest prevalence of rodent infections also occurred.CONCLUSIONS:
The findings indicate that A cantonensis is present in rats and snails in Jamaica. In the context of reports (1996, 2000) of eosinophilic meningitis on the island, we recommend that public health officials, clinical parasitologists and travel medicine practitioners consider A cantonensis as a causative agent of eosinophilic meningitis in residents and travellers to Jamaica. (AU)
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Collection:
International databases
Health context:
Neglected Diseases
Health problem:
Neglected Diseases
/
Zoonoses
Database:
MedCarib
Main subject:
Angiostrongylus cantonensis
Type of study:
Prognostic study
/
Risk factors
Limits:
Animals
/
Humans
Country/Region as subject:
English Caribbean
/
Jamaica
Language:
English
Journal:
West Indian med. j
Year:
2001
Document type:
Article