Prevalence of Angiostrongylus cantonensis infection in commensal rats in Bombay

Abstract

The prevalence Angiostrongylus cantonensis, a metastrongylid lungworm of rats, was investigated in three common species of rodents in the Greater Bombay area, namely, Rattus rattus, R. norvegicus and Bandicota bengalensis. In all, 737 R. norvegicus, 100 R. rattus and 100 B. bengalensis were examined and the presence of A. cantonensis infection was noticed in R. norvegicus (1·62%). About 800 slugs (Laevicaulis alte) were examined and were found to harbour third-stage larvae of Angiostrongylus.