title: [Study on the epidemiological characteristics and natural infectious focus of Angiostrongylus cantonensis in Shenzhen area of Zhujiang Delta in China].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To delimit the natural infectious focus, including the distribution of wildlife, species, ecology of intermediate hosts and final host of Angiostrongylus cantonensis, as well as the routes of transmission and epidemiological characteristics and wildlife of human Angiostrongylus cantonensis, based on human diverging cases identified in Shenzhen, southern area of China.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data including rate of infection and density of Angiostrongylus cantonensis among different hosts in 12 different areas in Shenzhen was collected, using microscope to inspect homogenate liquids of snails. Wild mice were captured with mouse cage to examine the adult Angiostrongylus cantonensis. Using larva isolated from wild-snails-infected rats to observe the life cycle of Angiostrongylus cantonensis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Wild life of Angiostrongylus cantonensis existed in the southwest part of Shenzhen with its majority intermediate hosts as Achatina fulica. The overall rate of infection was 31% in wildlife and final host was found to be Rattus andersoni, Achatina fulica which were extensively distributed in the shrub region of Shenzhen because of suitable climate, humidity and vegetation for generating the life cycle of Achatina fulica. Human infected Angiostrongylus cantonensis was mainly due to eating raw snails or vegetables contaminated by larva of Angiostrongylus cantonensis. The peak of infection was seen from April to November in Shenzhen area.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Wildlife of Angiostrongylus cantonensis existed in the southwest part of Shenzhen with major wildlife reservoir including fresh water snail and wild mouse. The existence of natural focus Angiostrongylus cantonensis was now recognized as an important source of human angiostrongyliasis in Shenzhen area.
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology, Shenzhen Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shenzhen 518020, China.
authors.forename: Ren-Li
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Shi-Tong
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.forename: Yi-Jie
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Geng
authors.forename: Da-Na
authors.initials: DN
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Mu-Xin
authors.initials: MX
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Jian-Ping
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Yuan-Liang
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Yin
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhen
authors.forename: Zhuan-Wen
authors.initials: ZW
authors.lastname: Dai
authors.forename: Qi-Wen
authors.initials: QW
authors.lastname: Zuang
authors.forename: Tai-Shun
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Zhi-Chao
authors.initials: ZC
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: Wu-Sheng
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Da-Lin
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D017185:Angiostrongylus cantonensis; D000818:Animals; D000835:Animals, Wild / Q000469:parasitology; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D004199:Disease Vectors; D051379:Mice; D051381:Rats; D012908:Snails / Q000469:parasitology*; D017206:Strongylida Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology