Insights into the biology of the rat lungworm, Angiostrongylus cantonensis
Abstract Angiostrongylus cantonensis is a parasitic nematode with a complex life cycle involving rats as definitive hosts and gastropods as intermediate hosts. The parasite can infect other organisms, including humans, in which it causes neuroangiostrongyliasis, a globally emerging but neglected dis...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2025-04-01
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| Series: | Parasites & Vectors |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-025-06790-3 |
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| author | Chasen D. Griffin Vanessa O. Ezenwa Robert H. Cowie |
| author_facet | Chasen D. Griffin Vanessa O. Ezenwa Robert H. Cowie |
| author_sort | Chasen D. Griffin |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Angiostrongylus cantonensis is a parasitic nematode with a complex life cycle involving rats as definitive hosts and gastropods as intermediate hosts. The parasite can infect other organisms, including humans, in which it causes neuroangiostrongyliasis, a globally emerging but neglected disease. This primer reviews the biology of A. cantonensis including its life cycle and development in its natural, accidental, and paratenic hosts, as well as its expanding geographic distribution. It then considers recent advances in A. cantonensis research followed by exploring areas that are ripe for further investigation into this fascinating parasite. Graphical Abstract |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-b62856b315b04e5bb43a06daa5a9f5b8 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 1756-3305 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Parasites & Vectors |
| spelling | doaj-art-b62856b315b04e5bb43a06daa5a9f5b82025-08-20T01:47:33ZengBMCParasites & Vectors1756-33052025-04-011811710.1186/s13071-025-06790-3Insights into the biology of the rat lungworm, Angiostrongylus cantonensisChasen D. Griffin0Vanessa O. Ezenwa1Robert H. Cowie2Pacific Biosciences Research Center, University of Hawaii at ManoaDepartment of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Yale UniversityPacific Biosciences Research Center, University of Hawaii at ManoaAbstract Angiostrongylus cantonensis is a parasitic nematode with a complex life cycle involving rats as definitive hosts and gastropods as intermediate hosts. The parasite can infect other organisms, including humans, in which it causes neuroangiostrongyliasis, a globally emerging but neglected disease. This primer reviews the biology of A. cantonensis including its life cycle and development in its natural, accidental, and paratenic hosts, as well as its expanding geographic distribution. It then considers recent advances in A. cantonensis research followed by exploring areas that are ripe for further investigation into this fascinating parasite. Graphical Abstracthttps://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-025-06790-3Angiostrongylus cantonensisRat lungwormAngiostrongyliasisHelminthEosinophilic meningitisZoonosis |
| spellingShingle | Chasen D. Griffin Vanessa O. Ezenwa Robert H. Cowie Insights into the biology of the rat lungworm, Angiostrongylus cantonensis Parasites & Vectors Angiostrongylus cantonensis Rat lungworm Angiostrongyliasis Helminth Eosinophilic meningitis Zoonosis |
| title | Insights into the biology of the rat lungworm, Angiostrongylus cantonensis |
| title_full | Insights into the biology of the rat lungworm, Angiostrongylus cantonensis |
| title_fullStr | Insights into the biology of the rat lungworm, Angiostrongylus cantonensis |
| title_full_unstemmed | Insights into the biology of the rat lungworm, Angiostrongylus cantonensis |
| title_short | Insights into the biology of the rat lungworm, Angiostrongylus cantonensis |
| title_sort | insights into the biology of the rat lungworm angiostrongylus cantonensis |
| topic | Angiostrongylus cantonensis Rat lungworm Angiostrongyliasis Helminth Eosinophilic meningitis Zoonosis |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-025-06790-3 |
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