A Survey of Snails Achatina fulica and Ampullaria gigas Infection with Angiostrongylus cantonensis in Yangchun of Guangdong Province

Objective To understand the natural infection rate of Angiostrongylus cantonensis in Achatina fulica and Ampullaria gigas from countryside of Yangchun district of Guangdong province. Method The Achatina fulica and Ampullaria gigas were collected from field of the district. They were digested with artificial stomach fluid, and then the infective larvae of Angiostrongylus cantonensis from the snails were counted and used to infect mice. Result 350 of Achatina fulica and 465 of Ampullaria gigas were examined. Their infective rate of Angiostrongylus cantonensis in Achatina fulica and Ampullaria gigas are 7.71% and 0.86%, with the infectiosity of 1～312 and 1～4, respectively. In the infected mice, forth stage larva of Angiostrongylus cantonensis was found in the brain and specific IgM was detected in all their sera. Conclusion Yangchun is a natural nidus of Angiostrongylus cantonensis. Achatina fulica have a more severe infection and serve as intermediate host of Angiostrongylus cantonensis.