Nervous System- Infection & Inflammation I
Question No. 18. The Answer is: (E) All of the above.
1. These organisms use mollusks as intermediate host.
2. These organisms cause eosinophilic meningitis.
3. These organisms are endemic in Southeastern Asia.
4. These organisms are inherently neurotropic.
Discussion: Angiostrongylus cantonensis is a nematode that has world wide distribution but most commonly found in the tropics particularly South-East Asia, Papua New Guinea, Pacific islands and Australia. The rat is the definitive host and the mollusks, often freshwater snails and or slugs, are intermediate host. Infection can be acquired by eating raw and partially cooked snails and also leafy vegetable that have not been adequately washed. The infection in human is caused by larvae that are inherently neutropic. Reactive eosinophilic meningitis is the main clinical and pathologic manifestation. Mortality of angiostrongyliasis is relatively low. Angiostrongylus cantonesis does not cause focal lesions. Peripheral blood eosinophilia is also common. Live larvae have been recovered from the brain at autopsy. Other parasites that would cause eosinophilic meningitis include neurocysticercosis, toxocariasis and gnathostomiasis.
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