The first record ofAngiostrongylus cantonensis from Egypt

Abstract

Summary In this paper the first record of the medically important nematode parasite,Angiostrongylus cantonensis, is made from Egypt. A survey of eight species of freshwater gastropods collected from natural water courses and of three species of wild rats caught from the same areas revealed respectively, that the ampullariid snailLanistes carinatus acts as the intermediate host transmitting this parasite, and that the ratRattus norvegicus is its definitive host. The life cycle of the parasite was successfully completed through experimental infection of laboratory bred albino rats with third-stage larvae, obtained from the above mentioned snail intermediate host. A morphological description of the adult worms and of all larval stages of the parasite is given.