title: Spread of the Rat Lungworm (Angiostrongylus cantonensis) in Giant African Land Snails (Lissachatina fulica) in Florida, USA.
abstract: The rat lungworm (Angiostrongylus cantonensis) is a parasitic nematode that causes rat lungworm disease. It is the leading cause of eosinophilic meningitis and is a zoonotic health risk. We confirmed the presence of A. cantonensis using species-specific, quantitative PCR in 18 of 50 (36%) giant African land snails (Lissachatina fulica) collected from Miami, Florida, US in May 2013. These snails were collected from seven of 21 core areas that the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services monitor weekly. Rat lungworms have not previously been identified in these areas. Duplicate DNA extractions of foot muscle tissue from each snail were tested. Of the seven core areas we examined, six were positive for A. cantonensis and prevalence of infection ranged from 27% to 100%. Of the 18 positive snails, only five were positive in both extractions. Our results confirm an increase in the range and prevalence of rat lungworm infection in Miami. We also emphasize the importance of extracting sufficient host tissue to minimize false negatives.
authors.affiliation: 1  US Geological Survey, Fish Health Branch, 11649 Leetown Road, Kearneysville, West Virginia 25430, USA.
authors.forename: Deborah D
authors.initials: DD
authors.lastname: Iwanowicz
authors.affiliation: 2  Cherokee Nation Technology Solutions, contracted to the US Geological Survey, Fish Health Branch, 11649 Leetown Road, Kearneysville, West Virginia 25430, USA.
authors.forename: Lakyn R
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Sanders
authors.affiliation: 1  US Geological Survey, Fish Health Branch, 11649 Leetown Road, Kearneysville, West Virginia 25430, USA.
authors.forename: W Bane
authors.initials: WB
authors.lastname: Schill
authors.affiliation: 3  Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria, Center for Global Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Mail Stop D64, 1600 Cliffton Road, Atlanta, Georgia 30329, USA.
authors.forename: Maniphet V
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Xayavong
authors.affiliation: 4  Division of Virulence Assessment, Office of Applied Research and Safety Assessment, Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, US Food and Drug Administration, 8301 Muikirk Road, Laurel, Maryland 20708, USA.
authors.forename: Alexandre J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: da Silva
authors.affiliation: 4  Division of Virulence Assessment, Office of Applied Research and Safety Assessment, Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, US Food and Drug Administration, 8301 Muikirk Road, Laurel, Maryland 20708, USA.
authors.forename: Yvonne
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Qvarnstrom
authors.affiliation: 5  Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, 1911 SW 34th Street, Gainesville, Florida 32608, USA.
authors.forename: Trevor
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Smith
mesh_terms: D017185:Angiostrongylus cantonensis / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D005431:Florida / Q000453:epidemiology; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000662:veterinary; D015995:Prevalence; D012908:Snails / Q000469:parasitology*; D017206:Strongylida Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission / Q000662:veterinary*
keywords: Angiostrongylus cantonensis; Lissachatina fulica; parasite; quantitative PCR; rat lungworm