Report of ezootic Angiostronglyus cantonesis from Jamaica [ABSTRACT]
West Indian med. j
; 50(Suppl 5): 16, Nov. 2001.
Artigo
em Inglês
| MedCarib
| ID: med-155
Biblioteca responsável:
JM3.1
Localização: 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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Coleções:
Bases de dados internacionais
Contexto em Saúde:
Doenças Negligenciadas
Problema de saúde:
Doenças Negligenciadas
/
Zoonoses
Base de dados:
MedCarib
Assunto principal:
Angiostrongylus cantonensis
Tipo de estudo:
Estudo prognóstico
/
Fatores de risco
Limite:
Animais
/
Humanos
País/Região como assunto:
Caribe Inglês
/
Jamaica
Idioma:
Inglês
Revista:
West Indian med. j
Ano de publicação:
2001
Tipo de documento:
Artigo