title: Central nervous system manifestations of Angiostrongylus cantonensis infection.
abstract: Over 20 species of Angiostrongylus have been described from around the world, but only Angiostrongylus cantonensis has been confirmed to cause central nervous system disease in humans. A neurotropic parasite that matures in the pulmonary arteries of rats, A. cantonensis is the most common cause of eosinophilic meningitis in southern Asia and the Pacific and Caribbean islands. The parasite can also cause encephalitis/encephalomyelitis and rarely ocular angiostrongyliasis. The present paper reviews the life cycle, epidemiology, pathogenesis, clinical features, diagnosis, treatment, prevention and prognosis of A. cantonesis infection. Emphasis is given on the spectrum of central nervous system manifestations and disease pathogenesis.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Pathology and Medicine, Jacobi Medical Center and the Montefiore Medical Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, The Bronx, NY, United States. Electronic address: yuri.chaves@einstein.yu.edu.
authors.forename: Yuri C
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Martins
authors.affiliation: Departments of Pathology and Medicine, Jacobi Medical Center and the Montefiore Medical Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, The Bronx, NY, United States. Electronic address: Herbert.tanowitz@einstein.yu.edu.
authors.forename: Herbert B
authors.initials: HB
authors.lastname: Tanowitz
authors.affiliation: Comparative Pathobiology, Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine, West Lafayette, IN, United States. Electronic address: kkazacos@purdue.edu.
authors.forename: Kevin R
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: Kazacos
mesh_terms: D017185:Angiostrongylus cantonensis / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D001208:Asia / Q000453:epidemiology; D004679:Encephalomyelitis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000628:therapy; D004802:Eosinophilia / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D000069544:Infectious Encephalitis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000628:therapy; D007814:Larva / Q000502:physiology; D008018:Life Cycle Stages; D008581:Meningitis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000628:therapy; D017206:Strongylida Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000628:therapy
keywords: Angiostrongylus cantonensis; Eosinophilic meningitis; Parasitic encephalitis