NAME: Angiostrongylus cantonensis
SYNONYM OR CROSS REFERENCE: Parastrongylus cantonensis; angiostrongyliasis, eosinophilic meningoencephalitis, eosinophilic meningitis
CHARACTERISTICS: A nematode found in the lungs of rats; eggs are hatched in the lungs and larvae are swallowed, expelled in faeces to seek a molluscan intermediate host where the parasite develops into the third-stage larva
PATHOGENICITY: Infection may be asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic; causes eosinophilic meningitis characterized by severe headache, stiff neck, and various paresthesias; facial paralysis occurs in 5% of patients; illness may last few days to several months; death is rare. Humans are dead end hosts in natural cycle
EPIDEMIOLOGY: Epidemics and sporadic infections most common in South Pacific, Southeast Asia, and Taiwan
HOST RANGE: Humans, rodents, molluscs
INFECTIOUS DOSE: Not known
MODE OF TRANSMISSION: Primarily by eating improperly cooked snails, slugs, prawns, fish and land crabs; vegetables and fruit contaminated with small molluscs or slugs may serve as a source of infection
INCUBATION PERIOD: Usually 1-3 weeks; can be shorter or longer
COMMUNICABILITY: Not transmitted from person to person
RESERVOIR: Rat (Rattus and Bandicota species)
ZOONOSIS: Yes
VECTORS: Molluscs - snails, slugs, land crabs, prawns
DRUG SUSCEPTIBILITY: Sensitive to albendazole, mebendazole
SUSCEPTIBILITY TO DISINFECTANTS: Susceptible to 1% sodium hypochlorite, 2% glutaraldehyde
PHYSICAL INACTIVATION: Larvae destroyed by boiling 3-5 min. Or freezing at -15°C for 24 hrs
SURVIVAL OUTSIDE HOST: Larvae survives for 1 week in tap water
SURVEILLANCE: Monitor for symptoms (eosinophils in CSF); confirm by microscopic demonstration of worms or larva
FIRST AID/TREATMENT: Administer appropriate drug therapy
IMMUNIZATION: None available
PROPHYLAXIS: None available
LABORATORY-ACQUIRED INFECTIONS: None reported
SOURCES/SPECIMENS: Cerebrospinal fluids, molluscs
PRIMARY HAZARDS: Accidental parenteral inoculation
SPECIAL HAZARDS: None
CONTAINMENT REQUIREMENTS: Biosafety level 2 practices and containment for activities involving infective stage of parasites, infectious body tissues and fluids
PROTECTIVE CLOTHING: Laboratory coat; gloves when skin contact with infectious materials is unavoidable
OTHER PRECAUTIONS: Good personal hygiene and frequent handwashing
SPILLS: Allow aerosols to settle; wearing protective clothing, gently cover spill with absorbent paper towel and apply 1% sodium hypochlorite starting at the perimeter and working towards the center; allow sufficient contact time (30 min) before clean up
DISPOSAL: Decontaminate all wastes before disposal; steam sterilization, chemical disinfection, incineration
STORAGE: In sealed containers that are appropriately labelled
Date prepared: November 1999
Prepared by: Office of Laboratory Security, PHAC
Although the information, opinions and recommendations contained in this Material Safety Data Sheet are compiled from sources believed to be reliable, we accept no responsibility for the accuracy, sufficiency, or reliability or for any loss or injury resulting from the use of the information. Newly discovered hazards are frequent and this information may not be completely up to date.
Copyright ©
Health Canada, 2001