ABSTRACT
Angiostrongylus is a metastrongylid nematode genus that encompasses species found in insectivores, rodents, and carnivores. As a reemerging zoonotic pathogen, Angiostrongylus cantonensis (rat lungworm) is an important cause of eosinophilic meningitis in humans. While rats and mollusks act as the de‘nitive and intermediate hosts, respectively, for A. cantonensis, humans acquire the infection through consumption of raw or undercooked infected molluscs (snails and slugs), or contaminated water and vegetables containing infective third-stage larvae, infected mollusks, or infected paratenic hosts. Although angiostrongyliasis is mostly self-limited, with full recovery within a month, it can lead to permanent brain and nerve damage as well as death in severe cases.
