First identification of Angiostrongylus spp in Lissachatina fulica and Cornu aspersum in Antioquia, Colombia

Abstract

Introduction. Abdominal and neural angiostrongyliasis caused by Angiostrongylus costaricensis and A. cantonensis, respectively, are zoonotic diseases involving snails as intermediate hosts. Colombia has reported human cases and the increasing distribution of Lissachatina fulica and Cornu aspersum raises public health concerns due to potential risk of disease transmission in areas where parasites and hosts coexist.
Objective. To identify the presence of Angiostrongylus spp. in snail species L. fulica and C. aspersum in the region of Antioquia, Colombia.
Materials and methods. This prospective cross-sectional study had a population of 5,855 L. fulica and C. aspersum snails captured in the ten cities of Valle de Aburrá (Antioquia, Colombia) 169 samples were collected in 28 sampling points. Lung tissues of the collected snails were dissected and analyzed to detect Angiostrongylus sp. through molecular techniques.
Results. Angiostrongylus sp. were identified in both L. fulica and C. aspersum. A. costaricensis was detected in 18 pooled samples (30%; 95% CI 19.2%-43.3%), and Medellín was the municipality with the highest number of positives (33.3%). 72.2% of positive places report presence of rodents. None of the tests were positive for A. cantonensis.
Conclusion. Our findings provide important insights into the epidemiology and distribution of Angiostrongylus spp. in the region of Antioquia, Colombia. The identification of these parasitic nematodes in L. fulica and C. aspersum highlights the potential role of these snails as intermediate hosts in the transmission of Angiostrongylus infections in Valle de Aburrá, with implications for both human and veterinary health.