Local terrestrial snails as natural intermediate hosts of the zoonotic parasite Angiostrongylus cantonensis in the new European endemic area of Valencia, Spain.

• Published in: Zoonoses and Public Health
• Main Authors: Fuentes, Màrius V, Gomez-Samblas, Mercedes, Richter, Orly, Sáez-Durán, Sandra, Bueno-Marí, Rubén, Osuna, Antonio, Galán-Puchades, María Teresa
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Wiley 2024
• Subjects: Angiostrongylus cantonensis; Spain; Valencia; intermediate hosts; rat lungworm; terrestrial snails; Rattus rattus
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1111/zph.13131; https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38553828

The rat lungworm, Angiostrongylus cantonensis, has recently been found in the city of Valencia, parasitizing rats, Rattus norvegicus and Rattus rattus, its natural definitive hosts. This is the first finding of this zoonotic nematode in continental Europe. After informing local and national health authorities, the collection of local terrestrial snails took place with the aim of elucidating their potential role as intermediate hosts of A. cantonensis.