Update on the First Finding of the Rat Lungworm, Angiostrongylus cantonensis, in Rattus spp. in Continental Europe, Valencia, Spain, 2022
Metadatos
Mostrar el registro completo del ítemAutor
Galán Puchades, María Teresa; Gómez Samblás, María Mercedes; Osuna Carrillo De Albornoz, AntonioEditorial
MDPI
Materia
Angiostrongylus cantonensis Rattus norvegicus Rattus rattus Valencia Orchards Spain
Fecha
2023-04-06Referencia bibliográfica
Galán-Puchades, M.T.; Gómez-Samblás, M.; Osuna, A.; Sáez-Durán, S.; Bueno-Marí, R.; Fuentes, M.V. Update on the First Finding of the Rat Lungworm, Angiostrongylus cantonensis, in Rattus spp. in Continental Europe, Valencia, Spain, 2022. Pathogens 2023, 12, 567. [https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens12040567]
Resumen
The rat lungworm, Angiostrongylus cantonensis, is an emerging parasite that can cause
eosinophilic meningitis in humans. Over the past 60 years, the worm has greatly expanded its
original Asian distribution to most tropical and subtropical areas of the world, mostly by traveling
on ships with its definitive hosts, rats. Angiostrongylus cantonensis was recently found for the first
time in Continental Europe, specifically in 3 (2 Rattus norvegicus and 1 Rattus rattus) out of 27 rats
trapped in the sewer system of the city of Valencia, Spain. Updating the investigation, the parasite
has subsequently been found in 8 (5 R. norvegicus and 3 R. rattus) out of 94 rats analyzed. The
highest prevalence of infection (20%) was obtained in rats trapped in the orchards that surround the
city, where both snails and slugs (intermediate hosts) abound, and where vegetables consumed in
Valencia, other parts of Spain, and abroad, are produced. The presence of the parasite in rats does not
necessarily mean that the disease it causes becomes a relevant public health concern since it strongly
depends on the food habits of the population at risk. If proper precautions are taken, the risk of
acquiring neuroangiostrongylosis should be minimal.