Abstract
Angiostrongyliasis is a parasitic disease and a leading cause of human eosinophilic meningoencephalitis caused by rat lungworm Angiostrongylus cantonensis. This parasite infects a wide range of animal hosts, including snails and rats, which plays a significant role in zoonotic transmission. The study was conducted to determine the prevalence of A. cantonensis infection in freshwater snails and definitive rat hosts in the agricultural area in Ampayon, Butuan City, Philippines. A total of 54 rat samples and 719 snail individuals were collected in June and July 2020. An overall 2.36% prevalence rate of A. cantonensis snail infection was recorded, consisting of Pomacea canaliculata and Melanoides tuberculata, with a prevalence rate of 4.05% and 1.38%, respectively. Results revealed an overall prevalence of 38.9% in rat infection. Rattus tanezumi (48.48%) showed a higher infection than Rattus norvegicus (23.80%). Higher infection rates were found in rice field environments than residential houses, with 44.12% and 30% prevalence rates, respectively. Moreover, male rats showed higher infection rates (50%) than female rats (26.92%). Among age classes, adult rats had significantly higher infection rates (48.57%) than juvenile rats (21.05%). Correlation analysis showed a significant positive correlation between A. cantonensis infection intensity to the body length (r = 0.603; p = 0.001) and body weight (r = 0.715; p = 0.000) of rats. The study exemplifies the critical role of intermediate and definitive hosts for angiostrongyliasis. Infected freshwater snails and rats in rice fields make these agricultural areas a venue for A. cantonensis emergence. Integrated actions, health education campaigns, surveillance, hygiene, and good farming practices will help prevent the potential risk of the transmission of angiostrongyliasis in the area.
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Acknowledgements
The author would like to express the most profound appreciation and gratitude to the locals of Ampayon, Butuan City, for assistance during the collection of samples and to the Department of Biology, College of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Caraga State University, for allowing the researcher to conduct the processing of samples and laboratory analysis. To: Celestial, H., Aro, K.L., Casindac, K.I., Andress, P.K., and Sevandal, E.B., for assistance collecting samples. The 6th International Angiostrongyliasis and Angiostrongylus workshop for the available information and data presentations to make this study attainable. Paller, V.G., for the completed research works in Angiostrongylus in Northern Philippines and information integration for this study conducted in Southern Philippines.
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This work was supported by the Philippine Commission of Higher Education (CHED) for the research fund granted to L.A. Estaño.
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Conceived and designed sampling: LAE performed the collection of samples and laboratory analysis as well as the writing of the paper.
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Estaño, L.A. Prevalence of Angiostrongylus cantonensis in definitive and intermediate hosts collected from agricultural areas in Ampayon, Butuan City, Southern Philippines. J Parasit Dis 47, 807–814 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12639-023-01626-2
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12639-023-01626-2