title: First Evidence of Angiostrongyliasis Caused byAngiostrongylus cantonensisin Guadeloupe, Lesser Antilles.
abstract: Infection by the rat lungwormAngiostrongylus cantonensisrepresents the most common cause of infectious eosinophilic meningitis in humans, causing central nervous system (CNS) angiostrongyliasis. Most of CNS angiostrongyliasis cases were described in Asia, Pacific Basin, Australia, and some limited parts of Africa and America. CNS angiostrongyliasis has been reported in the Caribbean but never in the Lesser Antilles. The primary objectives of this study were to depict the first case of CNS angiostrongyliasis in the Lesser Antilles and investigate the environmental presence ofA. cantonensisin Guadeloupe, Lesser Antilles. In December 2013, a suspected case of CNS angiostrongyliasis in an 8-month-old infant in Guadeloupe was investigated by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing on cerebral spinal fluid (CSF). The environmental investigation was performed by collectingAchatina fulicamolluscs from different parts of Guadeloupe and testing the occurrence ofA. cantonensisby real-time PCR. CSF from the suspected case of angiostrongyliasis was positive forA. cantonensisby real-time PCR. Among 34 collected snails for environmental investigation, 32.4% were positive forA. cantonensis. In conclusion, we report the first laboratory-confirmed case of CNS-angiostrongyliasis in the Lesser Antilles. We identified the presence and high prevalence ofA. cantonensisinA. fulicain Guadeloupe. These results highlight the need to increase awareness of this disease and implement public health programs in the region to prevent human cases of angiostrongyliasis and improve management of eosinophilic meningitis patients.
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire de Biologie Médicale, Centre Hospitalier de Basse-Terre, Basse-Terre, Guadeloupe, France.|Laboratoire de Parasitologie-Mycologie, Centre Hospitalier et Universitaire de Grenoble Alpes, Grenoble, France.
authors.forename: Céline
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Dard
authors.affiliation: Département de Pédiatrie, Centre Hospitalier de Basse-Terre, Basse-Terre, Guadeloupe, France.
authors.forename: Jean-Eudes
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Piloquet
authors.affiliation: Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria, Center for Global Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia.
authors.forename: Yvonne
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Qvarnstrom
authors.affiliation: Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria, Center for Global Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia.
authors.forename: LeAnne M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Fox
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire de Biologie Médicale, Centre Hospitalier de Basse-Terre, Basse-Terre, Guadeloupe, France.
authors.forename: Helmi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: M'kada
authors.affiliation: Département de Pédiatrie, Centre Hospitalier de Basse-Terre, Basse-Terre, Guadeloupe, France.
authors.forename: Jean-Christophe
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Hebert
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire de Biologie Médicale, Centre Hospitalier de Basse-Terre, Basse-Terre, Guadeloupe, France.
authors.forename: Didier
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mattera
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire de Biologie Médicale, Centre Hospitalier de Basse-Terre, Basse-Terre, Guadeloupe, France.
authors.forename: Dorothée
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Harrois
mesh_terms: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015766:Albendazole / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017185:Angiostrongylus cantonensis / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D000818:Animals; D001208:Asia; D001315:Australia; D002490:Central Nervous System / Q000469:parasitology / Q000473:pathology; D019430:Guadeloupe; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007559:Ivermectin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012908:Snails / Q000469:parasitology; D017206:Strongylida Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D007559:Ivermectin; D015766:Albendazole