Achatina fulica as an intermediate host of nematoda of medical-veterinary interest in Goiás, Brazil

Authors

  • Ana Paula Martins de Oliveira
  • Eduardo José Lopes Torres
  • Arnaldo Maldonado Jr
  • José Luíz de Barros Araújo
  • Monica Ammon Fernandez
  • Silvana Carvalho Thiengo

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5216/rpt.v39i3.12211

Keywords:

Achatina fulica, Geographical distribution, Goiás, Nematode larvae, Metastrongylidae.

Abstract

Achatina fulica also known as African snail is a terrestrial mollusc that may act
as an intermediate host for helminthes, some of them with medical and veterinary
importance such as: Angiostrongylus cantonensis and Angiostrongylus costaricensis,
which may cause eosinophilic meningitis and abdominal angiostrongyliasis,
respectively. This study aimed to investigate the distribution of A. fulica in the state
of Goiás, Central Brazil, and to search for nematode larvae with parasitological
importance. A. fulica was first reported in the municipality of Morrinhos in 2003 and
it is currently present in 39.5% of the municipalities of Goiás. The search for larval
nematodes, on the samples from the municipalities of Caldas Novas, Morrinhos,
and Bela Vista de Goiás, performed using the artificial digestion technique revealed
the occurrence of Aelurostrongylus abstrusus (prevalence of 35%), Rhabditis sp.
(47.5%), Strongyluris sp. (15%), and other metastrongyloid larvae (2.5%). This
paper expanded the knowledge on the geographical distribution of A. fulica in
Goiás and illustrated the role of this mollusc as intermediate host of nematodes
of veterinary and medical importance. In addition, these results showed the high
densities of this mollusc in the investigated municipalities pointing to the urgency
of measures of control and epidemiological surveillance of this mollusc in urban areas where the contact between humans and domestic animals with infected A.
fulica is easier.

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Published

2010-10-21

How to Cite

OLIVEIRA, A. P. M. de; TORRES, E. J. L.; MALDONADO JR, A.; ARAÚJO, J. L. de B.; FERNANDEZ, M. A.; THIENGO, S. C. Achatina fulica as an intermediate host of nematoda of medical-veterinary interest in Goiás, Brazil. Revista de Patologia Tropical / Journal of Tropical Pathology, Goiânia, v. 39, n. 3, p. 199–210, 2010. DOI: 10.5216/rpt.v39i3.12211. Disponível em: https://revistas.ufg.br/iptsp/article/view/12211. Acesso em: 19 may. 2024.

Issue

Vol. 39 No. 3 (2010)

Section

ORIGINAL ARTICLES

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