Occurrence of Rat Lungworm (Angiostrongylus cantonensis) in Invasive Coqui Frogs (Eleutherodactylus coqui) and Other Hosts in Hawaii, USA

Niebuhr, Chris N.; Jarvi, Susan I.; Kaluna, Lisa; Fischer, Bruce L. Torres; Deane, Ashley R.; Leinbach, Israel L.; Siers, Shane R.

doi:10.7589/2018-12-294

Cited by 12 publications

(20 citation statements)

References 12 publications

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“…), were dissected from the tail region, as this region is known to harbour consistently high larval burdens of A. cantonensis in P. martensi (Jarvi et al, 2012). Tissue samples were stored in 500 μL of DNA lysis buffer and homogenised using a Bead Ruptor Elite (Omni International, Kennesaw, Georgia, USA) as described in Niebuhr et al (2020). DNA was extracted from 50 μL of homogenised tissue using the DNeasy® Blood & Tissue Kit (QIAGEN, Valencia, California, USA) per the manufacturer's Animal Tissue protocol with a final elution volume of 400 μL.…”

Section: Angiostrongylus In P Martensimentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Quantification of A. cantonensis (number of larvae per reaction tube) from tail tissues of snails was estimated by quantitative PCR (qPCR) using the assay described by Jarvi et al (2012), the 50-cycle cycling conditions outlined by Niebuhr et al (2020), 9 μL of extracted template and the plasmid standards developed by Howe et al (2019). While only tail tissue was analysed here, to allow for more consistency when making comparisons, the quantification of parasites found should not necessarily be extrapolated to the rest of the body, as A. cantonensis may not be evenly distributed throughout the entire snail (Jarvi et al, 2012).…”

Section: Angiostrongylus In P Martensimentioning

confidence: 99%

“…(<0.5) among replicates within a qPCR run. Samples were classified as positive or negative using the criteria outlined in Niebuhr et al (2020). For positive samples, the amount of tissue used in each DNA extraction (tissue amount assayed) and the intensity of infection (estimated quantity of larvae per mg of tissue) was determined by the two following equations:…”

Section: Angiostrongylus In P Martensimentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Angiostrongylus cantonensis (Nematoda: Metastrongylidae), or the rat lungworm, is the primary aetiologic agent of eosinophilic meningitis in humans worldwide, with recent reports of increased human infection, geographic spread and host expansion (Wang et al, 2008;Graeff-Teixeira et al, 2009;York et al, 2015;Niebuhr et al, 2020). These recent increases in human cases, as well as high A. cantonensis infection rates observed in wildlife, have identified Hawaii as a global hotspot of infection, while simultaneously highlighting gaps in knowledge surrounding local pathways for transmission (Cowie, 2013;Jarvi et al, 2018;Johnston et al, 2019;Niebuhr et al, 2019).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Variation in Angiostrongylus cantonensis infection in definitive and intermediate hosts in Hawaii, a global hotspot of rat lungworm disease

et al. 2020

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Angiostrongylus cantonensis (rat lungworm) is a tropical and subtropical parasitic nematode, with infections in humans causing angiostrongyliasis (rat lungworm disease), characterized by eosinophilic meningitis. Hawaii has been identified as a global hotspot of infection, with recent reports of high infection rates in humans, as well as rat definitive and snail intermediate hosts. This study investigated variation in A. cantonensis infection, both prevalence and intensity, in wild populations of two species of rats (Rattus exulans and R. rattus) and one species of snail (Parmarion martensi). An overall infection prevalence of 86.2% was observed in P. martensi and 63.8% in rats, with R. exulans (77.4%) greater than R. rattus (47.6%). We found infections to vary with environmental and host-related factors. Body mass was a strong predictor of infection in all three species, with different patterns seen between sexes and species of rats. Infection prevalence and intensity for R. exulans were high in May 2018 and again in February 2019, but generally lower and more variable during the intervening months. Information on sources of variability of infection in wild host populations will be a crucial component in predicting the effectiveness of future disease surveillance or targeted management strategies.

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Section: Angiostrongylus In P Martensimentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Angiostrongylus In P Martensimentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Angiostrongylus In P Martensimentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Variation in Angiostrongylus cantonensis infection in definitive and intermediate hosts in Hawaii, a global hotspot of rat lungworm disease

et al. 2020

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“…Neuroangiostrongyliasis due to infection with Angiostrongylus cantonensis can be a serious and even fatal disease (Wang et al, 2008(Wang et al, , 2012Barratt et al, 2016). Angiostrongylus cantonensis is a global parasite, and in the USA, a relatively high rate of infection in humans and other animals is documented in Hawai'i (Alicata, 1964;Jarvi et al, 2017;Johnston et al, 2019;Niebuhr et al, 2020). The parasite has also been reported in the US mainland, primarily in the southeastern states, with 12 human cases reported between 2011 and 2017 (Liu et al, 2018).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Development of a recombinase polymerase amplification (RPA-EXO) and lateral flow assay (RPA-LFA) based on the ITS1 gene for the detection of Angiostrongylus cantonensis in gastropod intermediate hosts

et al. 2020

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Angiostrongylus cantonensis is a parasitic nematode known to infect humans through the ingestion of third stage larvae which can cause inflammation and damage to the central nervous system. Currently, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is one of the most reliable diagnostic methods for detecting A. cantonensis in humans as well as in gastropod hosts, but requires expensive and specialized equipment. Here, we compare the sensitivity and accuracy of a recombinase polymerase amplification Exo (RPA-EXO) assay, and a recombinase polymerase amplification lateral flow assay (RPA-LFA) with a traditional quantitative PCR (qPCR) assay currently available. The three assays were used to test 35 slugs from Hawai‘i for the presence of A. cantonensis DNA. Consistent results among the three tests were shown in 23/35 samples (65.7%), while 7/35 (20%) were discordant in low infection level samples (<0.01 larvae per mg tissue), and 5/35 (14.3%) were equivocal. To evaluate sensitivity, a partial ITS1 gene was cloned, and serial plasmid dilutions were created ranging from 100 copies μL−1 to ~1 copy μL−1. All three assays consistently detected 50–100 copies μL−1 in triplicate and qPCR was able to detect ~13 copies μL−1 in triplicate. RPA-EXO was able to detect 25 copies μL−1 in triplicate and RPA-LFA was not able to amplify consistently below 50 copies μL−1. Thus, our RPA-EXO and RPA-LFA assays do not appear as sensitive as the current qPCR assay at low DNA concentrations; however, these tests have numerous advantages that may make them useful alternatives to qPCR.

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Phytosanitary irradiation using X‐rays prevents reproduction in the semi‐slug Parmarion martensi (Stylommatophora: Ariophantidae), a host of the human pathogenic nematode Angiostrongylus cantonensis (Rhabditida: Angiostrongylidae)

Follett

Hamilton

Tagami

et al. 2021

Pest Management Science

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BACKGROUND: Phytosanitary irradiation is used to control insect pests of quarantine concern on exported fresh horticultural products. Generic irradiation doses of 150 and 400 Gy are approved for tephritid fruit flies and all other insects, respectively. Other invertebrates such as gastropods (snails and slugs) may be classified as quarantine pests and require a disinfestation treatment. Parmarion martensi Simroth (Stylommatophora: Ariophantidae) is a semi-slug quarantine pest sometimes found on fresh sweet potatoes and other fruits and vegetables exported from Hawai'i to the continental USA. Also, P. martensi is a host of the parasitic nematode Angiostrongylus cantonensis (Rhabditida: Angiostrongylidae), the causative agent of neuroangiostrongyliasis or rat lungworm disease in humans. We conducted a study to determine if phytosanitary irradiation could control P. martensi and thereby reduce the risk of transmitting A. cantonensis in the USA. RESULTS: Two-, 12-, and 21-week-old P. martensi were treated with X-ray radiation at a dose of 150 or 400 Gy or left untreated as controls then held in the laboratory for up to 250 days. Survivorship and reproduction were recorded every 2-3 days and individual weights were measured biweekly. Irradiation at 150 and 400 Gy reduced growth and increased the mortality rate compared to untreated controls and prevented reproduction. CONCLUSION: Phytosanitary irradiation treatment at doses ≥150 Gy will prevent the establishment of viable populations of P. martensi. The literature on radiation tolerance in gastropods suggests that the internationally approved generic dose for tephritid fruit flies of 150 Gy may be effective against many slug and snail pest species.

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Occurrence of Rat Lungworm (Angiostrongylus cantonensis) in Invasive Coqui Frogs (Eleutherodactylus coqui) and Other Hosts in Hawaii, USA

Cited by 12 publications

References 12 publications

Variation in Angiostrongylus cantonensis infection in definitive and intermediate hosts in Hawaii, a global hotspot of rat lungworm disease

Variation in Angiostrongylus cantonensis infection in definitive and intermediate hosts in Hawaii, a global hotspot of rat lungworm disease

Development of a recombinase polymerase amplification (RPA-EXO) and lateral flow assay (RPA-LFA) based on the ITS1 gene for the detection of Angiostrongylus cantonensis in gastropod intermediate hosts

Phytosanitary irradiation using X‐rays prevents reproduction in the semi‐slug Parmarion martensi (Stylommatophora: Ariophantidae), a host of the human pathogenic nematode Angiostrongylus cantonensis (Rhabditida: Angiostrongylidae)

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