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Angiostrongyliasis overview

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Overview

Angiostrongyliasis is an infection by a nematode from the Angiostrongylus genus of kidney and alimentary tract roundworms. For example, infection with Angiostrongylus cantonensis can occur after consuming raw Giant African land snails, Great Grey Slugs, or other mollusks.

In humans, Angiostrongylus is the most common cause of eosinophilic meningitis or meningoencephalitis.[1] Frequently the infection will resolve without treatment or serious consequences, but in cases with a heavy load of parasites the infection can be so severe it can cause permanent damage to the CNS or death.[2]

References

  1. Baheti NN & Sreedharan M et al (2008). “Eosinophilic meningitis and an ocular worm in a patient from Kerala, south India” J. Neurol. Neurosurg. Psychiatry 79 (271).
  2. David, John T. and Petri, William A Jr. Markell and Voge’s Medical Parasitology. St. Louis, MO: El Sevier, 2006.

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