What is Angiostrongylus cantonensis?

About Angiostrongylus cantonensis:

• Angiostrongylus cantonensis, commonly known as the rat lungworm, is a parasitic nematode (roundworm) that infects rodents, particularly rats.
• It is typically found in Southeast Asia and the Pacific Islands, including Hawaii.
• While rats serve as the primary hosts for this parasite, humans and other animals, including snails and slugs, can become infected as incidental hosts.
• Transmission: It is spread through rat faeces and can infect humans and other animals through produce or other food items.
• Impact on Humans:
  • Once inside a human, the worm could cause a rare brain infection known as eosinophilic meningitis.
  • Symptoms can include headaches, still neck, tingling, fevers, vomiting, or painful feelings in the skin.
  • Most infections resolve spontaneously over time without specific treatment because the parasite cannot survive for long in the human body.
  • The worm can, in severe cases, cause coma or even death in humans, and can also infect pets.
• Treatment:
  • There is currently no specific treatment for the parasite.
  • The most common types of treatment are for the symptoms of the infection, such as pain medication for headache or medications to reduce the body’s reaction to the parasite.