Gnathostomiasis in frog-eating snakes from Japan.
Gnathostoma doloresi parasitizes the gastric wall of wild (boars) and domestic (pigs) swine (Sus scrofa). Its larvae cause cutaneous larva migrans in humans. Amphibians, reptiles and a freshwater fish are infected with the advanced 3rd stage larvae. Prevalence of G. doloresi larvae were surveyed in several snakes, especially in a common frog-eating snake (Rhabdophis tigrinus). All species of snakes examined were infected with G. doloresi larvae suggesting that snakes are important reservoir hosts. Prevalence of G. doloresi larvae in frog-eating snakes was lower than that found in mammal-eating snakes. Thus, as a source of infection to snakes, small mammals may be more important than frogs in the natural life cycle of G. doloresi in Japan.
Ishiwata
K
K
Department of Parasitology, Miyazaki Medical College, Japan.
Nakao
H
H
Nose
R
R
Komiya
M
M
Hanada
S
S
Enomoto
Y
Y
Nawa
Y
Y
D000818:Animals; D004197:Disease Reservoirs; D005518:Food Preferences; D006039:Gnathostoma / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D008322:Mammals; D015995:Prevalence; D011898:Ranidae; D012911:Snakes / Q000469:parasitology* / Q000502:physiology; D017205:Spirurida Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary*