Notes

• Angiostrongylus cantonensis

• Rat lungworm (nematode)

• Normal lifecycle: Rat (definitive host) ingests larvae, matures to adult in the lungs, reproduce, eggs hatch in lungs and larvae passed in rodent faeces and ingested by gastropod (intermediate host), then ingested by rat

• Accidental ingestion of gastropod (snail/slug) or larvae (e.g. on contaminated produce)

• Larvae migrate to brain (sometimes eyes or lungs) in aberrant human host, and do not reach reproductive maturity

• Eosinophilic meningitis

• Self-limiting

Treatment

• Lumbar punctures to reduce headache

• Antiparasitic drugs - benefit unclear

• Steroids - benefit unclear