Low susceptibility of Achatina fulica from Brazil to infection with AngioIylus costaricensis and A. cantonensis

Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz. 2007 Feb;102(1):49-52. doi: 10.1590/s0074-02762007000100007.

Abstract

Introduction of Achatina fulica in Brazil has led to serious concerns about its role as vector for metaIylid worms: AngioIylus costaricensis and A. cantonensis. Experimental infection with both parasites was performed to evaluate the potential risk for their transmission by the giant African snail. Groups of 5 animals, both wild and bred at captivity were exposed at different inocula: 1, 5, and 10 x 10(3) L1 of A. costaricensis and A. cantonensis. In all groups, few snails got infected and parasitic burden was low. Two different ways of infection were tested: ingestion produced higher numbers of L3 than the inoculation through an artificial hole in the shell. We also report the parasitological examination of 6 batches of wild A. fulica from Florianópolis, state of Santa Catarina, Brazil: only 1 out of 244 animals were infected with metaIylid larvae. Taken together these data indicate that the giant African snail occurring in Southern Brazil is not a permissive host for both AngioIylus species and does not represent a significant risk for transmission of these parasites.

MeSH terms

  • Angiostrongylus / physiology*
  • Angiostrongylus cantonensis / physiology
  • Animals
  • Brazil
  • Rats
  • Snails / parasitology*