Details:

Alternative Title:
MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep
Publisher's site:
http://dx.doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm6730a4
Personal Author:
Liu, Eugene W. ; Schwartz, Brian S. ; Hysmith, Nicholas D. ; DeVincenzo, John P. ; Larson, Derek T. ; ... More +
Liu, Eugene W. ; Schwartz, Brian S. ; Hysmith, Nicholas D. ; DeVincenzo, John P. ; Larson, Derek T. ; Maves, Ryan C. ; Palazzi, Debra L. ; Meyer, Chelsea ; Custodio, Haidee T. ; Braza, Mariejane M. ; Al Hammoud, Roukaya ; Rao, Suchitra ; Qvarnstrom, Yvonne ; Yabsley, Michael J. ; Bradbury, Richard S. ; Montgomery, Susan P. Less -
Description:
Angiostrongyliasis is caused by infection and migration to the brain of larvae of the parasitic nematode Angiostrongylus cantonensis, or rat lungworm. Adult A. cantonensis reside in the lungs of the definitive wild rodent host, where they produce larvae passed in feces, which are then ingested by snails and slugs (gastropods). Human infection typically occurs when gastropods containing mature larvae are inadvertently ingested by humans. Although human infection often is asymptomatic or involves transient mild symptoms, larval migration to the brain can lead to eosinophilic meningitis, focal neurologic deficits, coma, and death. The majority of cases of human angiostrongyliasis occur in Asia and the Pacific Islands, including Hawaii, but autochthonous and imported cases have been reported in the continental United States (1,2), underscoring the importance of provider recognition to ensure prompt identification and treatment. The epidemiologic and clinical features of 12 angiostrongyliasis cases in the continental United States were analyzed. These cases were identified through A. cantonensis polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing (3) of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) submitted to CDC from within the continental United States. Six cases were likely a result of autochthonous transmission in the southern United States. All 12 patients had CSF pleocytosis and eosinophilia, consistent with eosinophilic meningitis. Health care providers need to be aware of the possibility of angiostrongyliasis in patients with eosinophilic meningitis, especially in residents in the southern United States or persons who have traveled outside the continental United States and have a history of ingestion of gastropods or contaminated raw vegetables.
Subject:
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Adolescent
Adult
Aged
Angiostrongylus Cantonensis
Animals
Central Nervous System Diseases
Child
Child, Preschool
Female
Full Report
Humans
Infant
Male
Middle Aged
Strongylida Infections
Young Adult

Source:
MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 67(30):825-828.
Pubmed ID:
30070981
Pubmed Central ID:
PMC6072054
Document Type:
Journal Article
Place as Subject:
United States
Collection(s):
Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR)
Main Document Checksum:
[+]
urn:sha256:fdbe232dc3eefc25417efb496bb9353cefecfb0fa90aa9089deb912e651cc600
File Type:

Supporting Files

• mm6730a4.nxml

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