Abdominal angiostrongyliasis caused by Angiostrongylus cantonensis: a possible cause of eosinophilic infiltration in human digestive tract

Abstract

We report the pathological findings of a serologically proven case of Angiostrongylus cantonensis presenting with localized peritonitis followed by eosinophilic meningoencephalitis. The neurological involvement developed 3 days after the occurrence of gastrointestinal symptoms. Similarly to the life cycle in rats, it takes about 2 or 3 days for the larvae to reach the nervous system. The pathological section of the sigmoid colon showed focal eosinophilic infiltration with serosal vessel invasion. In the case reported here, we describe a new possible cause of eosinophilic infiltration in the human digestive tract.