Neuroangiostrongyliasis: clinical features
Written and reviewed by Dr Ibrahim Imam, Consultant Neurologist. Last reviewed .
Neuroangiostrongyliasis: clinical features. It is caused by Angiostrongylus cantonensis. Fully referenced neurology checklist.
Biology
- It is caused by Angiostrongylus cantonensis
- It is endemic in Southeast Asia, the South Pacific, and the Caribbean
- The rat is the primary host
- The life cycle alternates between rats and snails or slugs
- Human infection occurs by ingesting larvae in contaminated food
Food sources
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Eosinophilic meningoencephalitis
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Other neurological features
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Differential diagnosis
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References
- Long D, Green K, Derani T, Decker N, Pace RJ, Aburashed R. CNS-disseminated Angiostrongylus cantonensis mimicking atypical demyelinating disease. Neurol Neuroimmunol Neuroinflamm 2019; pii: e608.
- Graeff-Teixeira C, da Silva AC, Yoshimura K. Update on eosinophilic meningoencephalitis and its clinical relevance. Clin Microbiol Rev 2009; 22:322-348.
- Yang X, Hershkowitz M, Bashir A, McGlennen KM, Newby R, Marra C, Bender Ignacio R, Wahlster S. Angiostrongylus pachymeningitis and encephalitis with extensive parenchymal involvement and lack of CSF eosinophilia. Neurology 2024; 103:e209849.
