PILA AMPULLACEA AND POMACEA CANALICULATA, AS NEW PARATENIC HOSTS OF GNATHOSTOMA SPINIGERUM

• Published in: Southeast Asian journal of tropical medicine and public health Vol. 40; no. 2; pp. 243 - 246
• Main Authors: KOMALAMISRA, Chalit, NUAMTANONG, Supaporn, DEKUMYOY, Paron
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Bangkok SEAMO, Regional Tropical Medicine and Public Health Network 01-03-2009; Central Coordinating Board, SEAMEO-TROPMED Project
• Subjects: Animals; Biological and medical sciences; Eels - parasitology; General aspects; Gnathostoma - growth & development; Gnathostoma - isolation & purification; Humans; Larva - growth & development; Larva - pathogenicity; Medical sciences; Nematode Infections - parasitology; Nematode Infections - transmission; Nematode Infections - veterinary; Snails - classification; Snails - parasitology; Species Specificity; Spirurida Infections - parasitology; Spirurida Infections - transmission; Spirurida Infections - veterinary; Thailand; Thailand; Tropical medicine
• ISSN: 0125-1562

Aquatic snails, Pila ampullacea and Pomacea canaliculata were experimentally found to be suitable paratenic hosts for advanced third-stage larvae (L3) of the nematode Gnathostoma spinigerum, the causative parasite of gnathostomiasis in humans. G. spinigerum (L3) were found to be encapsulated in the tissue of the snail's foot and its internal organs. The infection, intensity and survival of third-stage larvae of G. spinigerum in both species of aquatic snails are described. This is the first evidence to reveal that not only vertebrates but also invertebrates (snails) can serve as paratenic hosts to this parasite. Aquatic snails are one of several sources of human gnathostomiasis in Thailand.