The scourge of Rat lungworm disease in Continental Europe, an emerging parasite

Abstract

In Europe, rat lungworm diseases have so far been reported exclusively at the insular level, specifically in Rattus norvegicus and R. rattus rats in Tenerife (the Canary Islands) and Atelerix algirus hedgehogs in Mallorca (the Balearic Islands). Researchers in Spain detected the parasite, the rat lungworm (Angiostrongylus cantonensis), in two different species of rats near the port of Valencia and also several kilometres from the coast. This suggests a wide distribution of rat lungworms in the city of Valencia and other European cities. Infected rats (and snails) travel by ship, which could transfer the parasite between continents and countries. Major features of rat lungworm disease are the central nervous system manifestations and complications, which include severe headache, stiffness of the neck and back, skin tingling, pain and sensitivity, sensitivity to light, hallucinations, nausea, vomiting, and sometimes coma and death that could arise from the disease. Preventive measures like health education about the signs and symptoms of the disease, a high index of suspicion by the clinicians, prompt investigations and symptomatic treatments, as well as limitations on complications, should be the ultimate goal. Nevertheless there is still a need for more research studies to be carried out on rat lungworm disease in Europe.