Rat lungworm (Angiostrongylus cantonensis), a zoonotic parasite invasive to the United States, causes eosinophilic meningoencephalitis. A. cantonensis harbors in rat reservoir hosts and is transmitted through gastropods and other paratenic hosts. We discuss the public health relevance of autochthonous A. cantonensis cases in brown rats (Rattus norvegicus) in Atlanta, Georgia, USA.
Keywords: Angiostrongylus cantonensis; Rattus norvegicus; United States; brown rats; eosinophilic meningoencephalitis; nematodes; parasites; rodents; vector-borne infections; zoonoses.