[The first national survey on natural nidi of Angiostrongylus cantonensis in China].
OBJECTIVE
To reveal the natural distribution of Angiostrongylus cantonensis in the mainland of China.


METHODS
The potential areas of A. cantonensis and its main intermediate host Pomacea canaliculata were predicted based on degree-day models using GIS technique. A grid sampling was performed on the prediction map and 5% grids were randomly sampled. A total of 55 sampled sites were selected for the survey on A. cantonensis and its hosts in September-October of 2006.


RESULTS
Nineteen Provinces/Municipalities/Autonomous Regions were found as potential habitats for P. canaliculata in the mainland of China. It was then confirmed that the snails distributed in the provinces of Fujian, Jiangxi, Zhejiang, Hunan, Guangdong, Guangxi, Hainan, and Yunnan. Higher prevalence of A. cantonensis in P. canaliculata was detected in Jianou of Fujian (36.6%), Xingguo of Jiangxi (19.9%), Rui'an of Zhejiang (16.0%), Rucheng of Hunan (5.0%), Huazhou of Guangdong (6.3%), Shangsi of Guangxi (39.1%) and Wuzhishan of Hainan (25.0%).


CONCLUSIONS
Natural nidi of A. cantonensis have been found in seven provinces where natural infection in P. canaliculata has been detected.
National Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, WHO Collaborating Centre for Malaria, Schistosomiasis and Filariasis, Key Laboratory of Parasite and Vector Biology, MOH, Shanghai 200025, China.
Yi
Y
Zhang
Shan
S
Lv
Kun
K
Yang
He-Xiang
HX
Liu
Ling
L
Hu
Li-Sha
LS
Li
Zhuo-Hui
ZH
Deng
Hong-Man
HM
Zhang
Xi-Min
XM
Hu
Li-Nong
LN
Yao
Xiao-Jun
XJ
Zeng
Zheng-Xiang
ZX
Li
Zhao
Z
Chen
Li-Ying
LY
Wang
Xiao-Nong
XN
Zhou
D017185:Angiostrongylus cantonensis / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D000818:Animals; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D005843:Geography; D012908:Snails / Q000469:parasitology*