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Local terrestrial snails as natural intermediate hosts of the zoonotic parasite Angiostrongylus cantonensis in the new European endemic area of Valencia, Spain.
Fuentes, Màrius V; Gomez-Samblas, Mercedes; Richter, Orly; Sáez-Durán, Sandra; Bueno-Marí, Rubén; Osuna, Antonio; Galán-Puchades, María Teresa.
Afiliação
  • Fuentes MV; Parasites and Health Research Group, Department of Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Technology and Parasitology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Valencia, Burjassot, Valencia, Spain.
  • Gomez-Samblas M; Laboratory of Biochemistry and Molecular Parasitology, Institute of Biotechnology, University of Granada, Granada, Spain.
  • Richter O; Laboratory of Biochemistry and Molecular Parasitology, Institute of Biotechnology, University of Granada, Granada, Spain.
  • Sáez-Durán S; Division of Biology and Medicine, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, USA.
  • Bueno-Marí R; Parasites and Health Research Group, Department of Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Technology and Parasitology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Valencia, Burjassot, Valencia, Spain.
  • Osuna A; Parasites and Health Research Group, Department of Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Technology and Parasitology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Valencia, Burjassot, Valencia, Spain.
  • Galán-Puchades MT; Laboratorios Lokímica, Paterna, Valencia, Spain.
Zoonoses Public Health ; 71(4): 451-456, 2024 Jun.
Article em En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38553828
ABSTRACT

AIM:

The rat lungworm, Angiostrongylus cantonensis, has recently been found in the city of Valencia, parasitizing rats, Rattus norvegicus and Rattus rattus, its natural definitive hosts. This is the first finding of this zoonotic nematode in continental Europe. After informing local and national health authorities, the collection of local terrestrial snails took place with the aim of elucidating their potential role as intermediate hosts of A. cantonensis. METHODS AND

RESULTS:

A total of 145 terrestrial snails, belonging to the species Cernuella virgata, Cornu aspersum, Eobania vermiculata, Otala punctata, Pseudotachea splendida, Rumina decollata and Theba pisana, were randomly collected between May and December 2022 in public gardens, parks and orchards in six districts of Valencia, in five of which A. cantonensis had been reported previously in rats. Once collected and identified, the snails were frozen at -20°C. Subsequently, the DNA was isolated and screened by PCR using specific primers targeting the A. cantonensis COI gene. Seven individual snails, belonging to the species C. virgata, C. aspersum and T. pisana, were positive, for an overall prevalence of 4.8%. The PCR product from one of them was sequenced by Sanger sequencing.

CONCLUSIONS:

The three positive terrestrial snail species are among the edible species that are frequently included in various dishes in Spain. C. virgata is reported as a previously unrecorded intermediate host and should be added to the list of more than 200 species of terrestrial snails that have been reported worldwide as intermediate hosts of the rat lungworm. Considering that these terrestrial snails may release infective larvae of A. cantonensis on leafy green vegetables on which they feed and during their handling and preparation for consumption, prophylactic measures to prevent human neuroangiostrongyliasis in Valencia and other regions to which this zoonotic parasite may spread are recommended.
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Texto completo: 1 Coleções: 01-internacional Base de dados: MEDLINE Assunto principal: Caramujos / Zoonoses / Infecções por Strongylida / Angiostrongylus cantonensis Limite: Animals / Humans País/Região como assunto: Europa Idioma: En Ano de publicação: 2024 Tipo de documento: Article

Texto completo: 1 Coleções: 01-internacional Base de dados: MEDLINE Assunto principal: Caramujos / Zoonoses / Infecções por Strongylida / Angiostrongylus cantonensis Limite: Animals / Humans País/Região como assunto: Europa Idioma: En Ano de publicação: 2024 Tipo de documento: Article