A Lungworm, Angiostrongylus blarini, n. sp, from the Short-Tailed Shrew, with Observations on the Histopathology and Life Cycle

Abstract

Description of new species is given as the only report of lung nematodes in Blarina brevicauda. The type locality is Champaign County, Illinois. The infected lung manifested 1-7 white globular cysts 3-4mm diameter, which contained 3-6 adults, numerous eggs, embryonated and unembryonated, and active first stage larvae. Larvae were found in adjoining bronchial passages and lung tissue. The thick cyst wall was composed of 2 zones of connective tissue containing entrapped larvae, eggs, mononuclear cells, fibrocytes and eosinophiles. Additional zones were formed from the reticular and thick connective tissue layers of bronchioles. Larvae left the lung through the bronchus, were swallowed and eliminated with the feces. The epithelial folds of the foot of the slug Philomycus carolinianus, from the infected area, were found to contain activs larvae similar to, but twice as long as those from the lung cyst.