Stressed snails release Angiostrongylus cantonensis (rat lungworm) larvae in their slime

Rollins, Randi L.; Medeiros, Matthew C.I.; Cowie, Robert H.

doi:10.1016/j.onehlt.2023.100658

Cited by 6 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 54 publications

(59 reference statements)

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“…Also, presence of A. cantonensis DNA in mucus samples showed a signi cant increase in number of positive samples in stressed individuals of Li. fulica, which is consistent with the results of Rollins et al (2023). However, the numbers of detected larvae were very low compared to mucus larval load extrapolated from Ct values (qPCR results) in Rollins et al (2023).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 89%

“…fulica, which is consistent with the results of Rollins et al (2023). However, the numbers of detected larvae were very low compared to mucus larval load extrapolated from Ct values (qPCR results) in Rollins et al (2023). Experiments focused on the release of A. vasorum L3 from aquatic snails also demonstrated higher numbers of larvae released (Barçante et al 2003).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 86%

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Release of Angiostrongylus cantonensis larvae from live intermediate hosts under stress stimuli

Šipková,

Anettová,

Izquierdo-Rodriguez

et al. 2024

Preprint

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The metastrongyloid nematode Angiostrongylus cantonensis is known to cause eosinophilic meningitis in a variety of homeothermic hosts including humans. Third-stage infectious larvae develop in gastropods as intermediate hosts. Humans are usually infected by intentional or incidental ingestion of an infected mollusc or paratenic host (poikilotherm vertebrates and invertebrates). The infection may also hypothetically occur through ingestion of food or water contaminated by third-stage larvae spontaneously released from gastropods. Larvae are thought to be released in greater numbers from the intermediate host exposed to stress stimuli. This study aimed to compare larval release from gastropods with and without stress stimuli. Experimentally infected Limax maximus and Lissachatina fulica were exposed to a stress stimulus (shaking on an orbital shaker). The mucus was collected before and after the stress and examined microscopically and by qPCR for the presence of A. cantonensis larvae and the DNA. In the case of L. maximus, no larvae were detected microscopically in the mucus, but qPCR analysis confirmed the presence of A. cantonensis DNA in all experimental replicates, without clear differences between stress and non-stress period. In contrast, individual larvae of A. cantonensis were found in mucus from Li. fulica after stress exposure which corresponds to an increased number of DNA-positive mucus samples after stress. Apparently, stress stimuli of intensity comparable to transport or snail handling stimulate larval release, especially from highly infected intermediate hosts. However, the small number of larvae released probably does not pose a significant risk of human infection.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 89%

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 86%

Release of Angiostrongylus cantonensis larvae from live intermediate hosts under stress stimuli

Šipková,

Anettová,

Izquierdo-Rodriguez

et al. 2024

Preprint

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show abstract

“…Therefore, people who gather the snails in the wild or workers who handle them in snail farms could be at risk of contracting the disease from dirty hands that, at some point, have come into contact with infected snail slime. Infective larvae of A. cantonensis can be released, especially by stressed, dead snails (Cowie et al, 2022;Rollins et al, 2023), onto green leafy vegetables on which they feed or even larvae could be released during their collection or handling and preparation for their consumption. Therefore, considering that the three species of terrestrial snails that were positive are edible, the following preventive measures to avoid human neuroangiostrongyliasis in Valencia, but also in other European regions, are recommended (Fuentes et al, 2023):…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Paratenic hosts may also participate in the life cycle of A. cantonensis, including freshwater shrimp, crabs and frogs (Turck et al, 2022), as well as endemic lizards in the Canary Islands (Anettová et al, 2022), by ingesting infected intermediate hosts. L 3 larvae may also be released by infected snail/slugs in their slime and could therefore contaminate vegetables (Rollins et al, 2023); they may also be released into water (Rivory et al, 2023).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Local terrestrial snails as natural intermediate hosts of the zoonotic parasite Angiostrongylus cantonensis in the new European endemic area of Valencia, Spain

Fuentes,

Gomez‐Samblas,

Richter

et al. 2024

Zoonoses and Public Health

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AimThe 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 ResultsA 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.ConclusionsThe 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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“…cantonensis involves rats as definitive hosts and various species of gastropods as intermediate hosts. Humans are accidentally infected in most cases through the ingestion of mollusks or infected paratenic hosts, as well as the consumption of foodstuffs contaminated with infectious third stage larvae (L 3 ) of the nematode, which are found in the mucus of the mollusks [ 16 , 17 , 18 ]. In Brazil, Rattus rattus (Linnaeus, 1758) and Rattus norvegicus (Berkenhout, 1796) have been found with natural infection of An.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Zoonotic Angiostrongylus cantonensis and the Veterinary Parasite Aelurostrongylus abstrusus Infecting Terrestrial Gastropods from Urban Areas of Macapá, Brazilian Amazon Region

Barbosa,

Thiengo,

Fernandez

et al. 2024

Pathogens

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Metastrongyloidea includes nematodes that parasitize mammals, mainly infecting their respiratory and cardiovascular systems, and are responsible for emerging zoonosis in the world. Terrestrial mollusks are their main intermediate hosts, with few exceptions. Here we present the results of a malacological survey to know the distribution of Angiostrongylus cantonensis in Macapá, Amapá, in the Brazilian Amazon region, after the report of a case of eosinophilic meningitis in 2018. Mollusks were collected in 45 neighborhoods between March 2019 and February 2020. They were identified, parasitologically analyzed, and their nematodes parasites were identified based on the morphology and MT-CO1 sequencing. Infections of An. cantonensis were observed in Achatina fulica, Sarasinula linguaeformis and Subulina octona. These are the first records of the natural infection of the last two species by An. cantonensis in the Brazilian Amazon region. The angiostrongylid Aelurostrongylus abstrusus, which parasitizes cats, was also detected parasitizing A. fulica and Diplosolenodes occidentalis. This is also the first record of the slug D. occidentalis infected by Ae. abstrusus. The highest infection rates were recorded in neighborhoods where the environment conditions favor the proliferation of both mollusks and rodents. The results demonstrate the ample distribution of An. cantonensis in Macapá and the need for surveillance and mollusk vector control in Brazil and other countries.

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Stressed snails release Angiostrongylus cantonensis (rat lungworm) larvae in their slime

Cited by 6 publications

References 54 publications

Release of Angiostrongylus cantonensis larvae from live intermediate hosts under stress stimuli

Release of Angiostrongylus cantonensis larvae from live intermediate hosts under stress stimuli

Local terrestrial snails as natural intermediate hosts of the zoonotic parasite Angiostrongylus cantonensis in the new European endemic area of Valencia, Spain

The Zoonotic Angiostrongylus cantonensis and the Veterinary Parasite Aelurostrongylus abstrusus Infecting Terrestrial Gastropods from Urban Areas of Macapá, Brazilian Amazon Region

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