title: Angiostrongyliasis in Thailand: epidemiology and laboratory investigations.
abstract: Cerebral angiostrongyliasis due to Angiostrongylus cantonensis continues to affect human health and productivity in Thailand. The dietary habits of the populace have been an important contributing factor, particularly in the northeast of the country where the disease is endemic and the indigenous people enjoy a local undercooked snail dish called "koi-hoi". Hundreds of cases of disease continue to be reported annually. Because of the difficulty in obtaining a definitive diagnosis, immunological methods have played an important role in the confirmation of A. cantonensis infection. Although enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and immunoblot are test formats that have been used over the past decade, modern molecular approaches, such as PCR-based diagnostic techniques, are being developed and assessed as additional tests for the diagnosis of cerebral angiostrongyliasis. This short review focuses on the history, incidence, and laboratory diagnosis of angiostrongyliasis in Thailand.
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand. praphathip.eam@mahidol.ac.th
authors.forename: Praphathip
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Eamsobhana
mesh_terms: D017185:Angiostrongylus cantonensis / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D000818:Animals; D000909:Antibodies, Helminth / Q000097:blood*; D000947:Antigens, Helminth / Q000097:blood*; D004247:DNA / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D004802:Eosinophilia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology; D049673:History, 20th Century; D049674:History, 21st Century; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008581:Meningitis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology; D017206:Strongylida Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000266:history* / Q000469:parasitology; D013785:Thailand / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D000909:Antibodies, Helminth; D000947:Antigens, Helminth; D004247:DNA
keywords: Angiostrongyliasis; Angiostrongylus cantonensis; Diagnosis; Eosinophilic meningitis; Laboratory testing; Thailand
references.citation: Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg. 2007 May;101(5):497-501
references.pmid: 17064748
references.citation: Parasitol Today. 1988 Sep;4(9):262-6
references.pmid: 15463120
references.citation: Am J Trop Med Hyg. 1965 May;14:370-4
references.pmid: 14294700
references.citation: Southeast Asian J Trop Med Public Health. 1994 Sep;25(3):498-500
references.pmid: 7777915
references.citation: Int J Infect Dis. 2009 Jul;13(4):425-31
references.pmid: 19117782
references.citation: Southeast Asian J Trop Med Public Health. 1978 Jun;9(2):220-7
references.pmid: 725653
references.citation: Am J Trop Med Hyg. 1962 Nov;1:759-61
references.pmid: 13986349
references.citation: Am J Trop Med Hyg. 1970 Nov;19(6):950-8
references.pmid: 5531201
references.citation: Aust N Z J Ophthalmol. 1986 Nov;14(4):381-4
references.pmid: 3814428
references.citation: Am J Trop Med Hyg. 1975 Jul;24(4):711-2
references.pmid: 1155707
references.citation: Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz. 2013 Feb;108(1):116-8
references.pmid: 23440126
references.citation: Am J Trop Med Hyg. 1966 Jan;15(1):50-1
references.pmid: 5901630
references.citation: Southeast Asian J Trop Med Public Health. 1991 Jun;22(2):262-7
references.pmid: 1948289
references.citation: J Laryngol Otol. 2004 Jan;118(1):57-8
references.pmid: 14979976
references.citation: Am J Ophthalmol. 1971 Apr;71(4):931-4
references.pmid: 5102754
references.citation: Am J Trop Med Hyg. 1967 Jul;16(4):454-61
references.pmid: 4952148
references.citation: J Med Assoc Thai. 2003 Oct;86(10):981-5
references.pmid: 14650712