CoChat
Sign Up
Cited by 81Mollusks and Parasites StudiesParasitic infections in humans and animalsParasites and Host Interactions

The DOI matches its Crossref record.

Eosinophilic meningitis due to Angiostrongylus cantonensis in Europe

Open access
Federspiel, Frederik, Skovmand, Sofie, Skarphedinsson, Sigurdur·2020·International Journal of Infectious Diseases
DOI 10.1016/j.ijid.2020.01.012
Open this paper in CoChat — free accountOpen PDF

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: To describe and analyse the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of imported human angiostrongyliasis in Europe. METHODS: A systematic literature review of cases of human angiostrongyliasis in Europe was performed. Seven databases were searched. The epidemiological and clinical characteristics were extracted from included records and simple summary statistics were performed on extracted data. RESULTS: Twenty-two cases reported between 1988 and 2019 were identified. They were mainly from French Polynesia, Southeast Asia, and the Caribbean Islands. The dominant suspected mode of transmission was ingestion of prawns, shrimp, or salad. For patients with data, 90% had a history of headache, often lasting, and half had paresthesia. Eighty-nine percent had eosinophilia, 93% had cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) eosinophilia, and 92% had elevated CSF protein. Central nervous system (CNS) imaging was normal in most cases. Two-thirds received albendazole or mebendazole treatment, although this is not currently recommended. CONCLUSIONS: We have increased previous numbers to 22 reported cases in total since 1988. Angiostrongyliasis should generally be suspected in patients with a lasting headache who have returned from Southeast Asia, China, the Caribbean Islands, Australia, or French Polynesia, as well as parts of North America and Tenerife, Spain, although one autochthonous case from mainland Europe has also been reported. A dietary history should focus on prawns, shrimp, and salad, whilst also including slugs and snails and other paratenic hosts where relevant. The clinical diagnosis is supported by the presence of blood eosinophilia, CSF eosinophilia, and elevated CSF protein. A definitive laboratory diagnosis should be sought, and CNS imaging should be used to support, not to rule out the diagnosis. The most up-to-date evidence should always be consulted before initiating treatment. Current recommendations include analgesics, corticosteroids, and periodic removal of CSF for symptom relief, while antihelminthic treatment is debated.

Overview

Integrity signals

Registry

Crossref · 10.1016/j.ijid.2020.01.012

Cites

Statistics

Recomputing p-values needs the paper’s full text.

Verification

Claims the paper makes

We couldn’t retrieve this paper’s full text, so its claims and self-check weren’t run. The registry and citation checks still apply.

Claims other papers make about this one

Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?

Citations

Cites

No references could be resolved yet.

Research works printed but not linked: 54

  1. Ali, 2008, Eosinophilic meningitis due to Angiostrongylus cantonensis in a Belgian traveller, Travel Med Infect Dis, 6, 41, 10.1016/j.tmaid.2007.09.001 · DOI
  2. Ansdell, 2018, Angiostrongylus cantonensis in travelers: clinical manifestations, diagnosis, and treatment, Curr Opin Infect Dis, 31, 399, 10.1097/QCO.0000000000000481 · DOI
  3. Barratt, 2016, Angiostrongylus cantonensis: a review of its distribution, molecular biology and clinical significance as a human pathogen, Parasitology, 143, 1087, 10.1017/S0031182016000652 · DOI
  4. Bartschi, 2004, Eosinophilic meningitis due to Angiostrongylus cantonensis in Switzerland, Infection, 32, 116, 10.1007/s15010-004-3028-x · DOI
  5. Bouree, 2010, Angiostrongylosis or eosinophilic meningitis, Rev Prat., 60, 456
  6. Bronstein, 1977, Eosinophilic meningitis (author’s transl), Nouv Presse Med, 6, 4059
  7. Brummaier, 2019, A blind passenger: a rare case of documented seroconversion in an Angiostrongylus cantonensis induced eosinophilic meningitis in a traveler visiting friends and relatives, Trop Dis Travel Med Vaccines, 5, 6, 10.1186/s40794-019-0084-x · DOI
  8. Chotmongkol, 2000, Corticosteroid treatment of eosinophilic meningitis, Clin Infect Dis, 31, 660, 10.1086/314036 · DOI
  9. Chotmongkol, 2006, Treatment of eosinophilic meningitis with a combination of prednisolone and mebendazole, Am J Trop Med Hyg, 74, 1122, 10.4269/ajtmh.2006.74.1122 · DOI · Paper page
  10. Chotmongkol, 2009, Comparison of prednisolone plus albendazole with prednisolone alone for treatment of patients with eosinophilic meningitis, Am J Trop Med Hyg, 81, 443, 10.4269/ajtmh.2009.81.443 · DOI
  11. Cooke-Yarborough, 1999, A fatal case of angiostrongyliasis in an 11-month-old infant, Med J Aust, 170, 541, 10.5694/j.1326-5377.1999.tb127880.x · DOI
  12. Cowie, 2013, Pathways for transmission of angiostrongyliasis and the risk of disease associated with them, Hawaii J Med Public Health, 72, 70
  13. Cui, 2011, Lung CT findings of angiostrongyliasis cantonensis caused by Angiostrongylus cantonensis, Clin Imaging, 35, 180, 10.1016/j.clinimag.2010.05.004 · DOI
  14. de Roux-Serratrice, 2002, Eosinophilic meningitis on returning from Tahiti, Presse Med, 31, 1219
  15. Diao, 2011, Treatment of angiostrongyliasis using a combination of albendazole and dexamethasone: the results of a retrospective and comparative study, Ann Trop Med Parasitol, 105, 65, 10.1179/136485910X12851868780342 · DOI
  16. Feng, 2013, Comprehensive review of ocular angiostrongyliasis with special reference to optic neuritis, Korean J Parasitol, 51, 613, 10.3347/kjp.2013.51.6.613 · DOI
  17. Hidelaratchi, 2005, A case of eosinophilic meningitis following monitor lizard meat consumption, exacerbated by anthelminthics, Ceylon Med J, 50, 84, 10.4038/cmj.v50i2.1577 · DOI
  18. Jaroonvesama, 1988, Differential diagnosis of eosinophilic meningitis, Parasitol Today, 4, 262, 10.1016/0169-4758(88)90146-9 · DOI
  19. Jin, 2008, Magnetic resonance imaging of eosinophilic meningoencephalitis caused by Angiostrongylus cantonensis following eating freshwater snails, Chin Med J, 121, 67, 10.1097/00029330-200801010-00013 · DOI
  20. Jitpimolmard, 2007, Albendazole therapy for eosinophilic meningitis caused by Angiostrongylus cantonensis, Parasitol Res, 100, 1293, 10.1007/s00436-006-0405-7 · DOI
  21. Kirsch, 2008, A case of eosinophilic meningitis in Germany, J Neurol, 255, 1102, 10.1007/s00415-008-0846-2 · DOI
  22. Kliks, 1992, Eosinophilic meningitis beyond the Pacific Basin: the global dispersal of a peridomestic zoonosis caused by Angiostrongylus cantonensis, the nematode lungworm of rats, Soc Sci Med (1982), 34, 199, 10.1016/0277-9536(92)90097-A · DOI
  23. Koo, 1988, Angiostrongylus (Parastrongylus) eosinophilic meningitis, Rev Infect Dis, 10, 1155, 10.1093/clinids/10.6.1155 · DOI
  24. Kuberski, 1979, Recovery of Angiostrongylus cantonensis from cerebrospinal fluid of a child with eosinophilic meningitis, J Clin Microbiol, 9, 629, 10.1128/jcm.9.5.629-631.1979 · DOI
  25. Lammers, 2015, Eosinophilia a deux: a brain nagging souvenir from the Philippines, Infection, 43, 615, 10.1007/s15010-015-0785-7 · DOI
  26. Leone, 2007, Eosinophilic meningitis in a returned traveler from Santo Domingo: case report and review, J Travel Med, 14, 407, 10.1111/j.1708-8305.2007.00152.x · DOI · Paper page
  27. Lo Re, 2003, Eosinophilic meningitis, Am J Med, 114, 217, 10.1016/S0002-9343(02)01495-X · DOI
  28. Luessi, 2009, Eosinophilic meningitis due to Angiostrongylus cantonensis in Germany, J Travel Med, 16, 292, 10.1111/j.1708-8305.2009.00337.x · DOI
  29. Malvy, 2008, Cluster of eosinophilic meningitis attributable to Angiostrongylus cantonensis infection in French policemen troop returning from the Pacific Islands, Travel Med Infect Dis, 6, 301, 10.1016/j.tmaid.2008.06.003 · DOI
  30. Maretic, 2009, Meningitis and radiculomyelitis caused by Angiostrongylus cantonensis, Emerg Infect Dis, 15, 996, 10.3201/eid1506.081263 · DOI
  31. Martin-Alonso, 2015, Intermediate hosts of Angiostrongylus cantonensis in Tenerife, Spain, PLoS One, 10, 10.1371/journal.pone.0120686 · DOI
  32. Moher, 2009, Preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses: the PRISMA statement, PLoS Med, 6, 10.1371/journal.pmed.1000097 · DOI · Paper page
  33. Montseny, 1995, Eosinophilic meningitis (angiostrongyloidosis). Dangers of Asian cooking, Presse Med, 24, 238
  34. Nguyen, 2017, Autochthonous case of eosinophilic meningitis caused by Angiostrongylus cantonensis, France, 2016, Emerg Infect Dis, 23, 1045, 10.3201/eid2306.161999 · DOI
  35. Nitidandhaprabhas, 1975, Angiostrongylus cantonensis in the cerebrospinal fluid of an adult male patient with eosinophilic meningitis in Thailand, Am J Trop Med Hyg, 24, 711, 10.4269/ajtmh.1975.24.711 · DOI
  36. Padilla-Docal, 2011, Mannose-binding lectin deficiency with eosinophilic meningoencephalitis due to Angiostrongylus cantonensis in children: a case series, J Med Case Rep, 5, 10.1186/1752-1947-5-330 · DOI
  37. Prociv, 2018, Neuroangiostrongyliasis: the “subarachnoid phase” and its implications for anthelminthic therapy, Am J Trop Med Hyg, 98, 353, 10.4269/ajtmh.17-0206 · DOI
  38. Punyagupta, 1975, Eosinophilic meningitis in Thailand. Clinical studies of 484 typical cases probably caused by Angiostrongylus cantonensis, Am J Trop Med Hyg, 24, 921, 10.4269/ajtmh.1975.24.921 · DOI
  39. Rau, 2006, Headache after a stay in the Dominican Republic, Dtsch Med Wochenschr (1946), 131, 1656, 10.1055/s-2006-947812 · DOI
  40. Sawanyawisuth, 2007, Intraocular angiostrongyliasis: clinical findings, treatments and outcomes, Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg, 101, 497, 10.1016/j.trstmh.2006.07.010 · DOI
  41. Scemama, 1988, Radiculoencephalomyelitis caused by Angiostrongylus cantonensis, Arch Pediatr, 45, 417
  42. Serrano-Moliner, 2018, Epidemiology and management of foodborne nematodiasis in the European Union, systematic review 2000–2016, Pathog Global Health, 112, 249, 10.1080/20477724.2018.1487663 · DOI
  43. Siles Cadilla, 1998, Meningoencephalomyelitis due to Angiostrongylus cantonensis with lung involvement, An Esp Pediatr, 49, 308
  44. Sonakul, 1978, Pathological findings in four cases of human angiostrongyliasis, Southeast Asian J Trop Med Public Health, 9, 220
  45. Stockdale-Walden, 2015, Angiostrongylus cantonensis in introduced gastropods in Southern Florida, J. Parasitol., 101, 156, 10.1645/14-553.1 · DOI
  46. Teem, 2013, The occurrence of the rat lungworm, Angiostrongylus cantonensis, in nonindigenous snails in the Gulf of Mexico region of the United States, Hawaii J. Med. Public Health, 72, 11
  47. Thobois, 1996, Ingestion of raw fish: a cause of eosinophilic meningitis caused by Angiostrongylus cantonensis after a trip to Tahiti, Presse Med, 25, 508
  48. Tsai, 2003, Eosinophilic meningitis caused by Angiostrongylus cantonensis associated with eating raw snails: correlation of brain magnetic resonance imaging scans with clinical findings, Am J Trop Med Hyg, 68, 281, 10.4269/ajtmh.2003.68.281 · DOI
  49. Vuadens, 1995, Eosinophil meningoradiculitis caused by Angiostrongylus cantonensis, Rev Neurol, 151, 354
  50. Wang, 2008, Human angiostrongyliasis, Lancet Infect Dis, 8, 621, 10.1016/S1473-3099(08)70229-9 · DOI
  51. Weller, 1993, Eosinophilic meningitis, Semin Neurol, 13, 161, 10.1055/s-2008-1041121 · DOI
  52. Wilkins, 2013, The current status of laboratory diagnosis of Angiostrongylus cantonensis infections in humans using serologic and molecular methods, Hawaii J Med Public Health, 72, 55
  53. Yii, 1976, Clinical observations on eosinophilic meningitis and meningoencephalitis caused by Angiostrongylus cantonensis on Taiwan, Am J Trop Med Hyg, 25, 233, 10.4269/ajtmh.1976.25.233 · DOI
  54. York, 2015, Geographic range expansion for rat lungworm in North America, Emerg Infect Dis, 21, 1234, 10.3201/eid2107.141980 · DOI

Cited by

Sorted by citations

Metadata

Authors
Federspiel, F., Skovmand, S., & Skarphedinsson, S.
Affiliations
  • London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (GB)
  • Odense University Hospital (DK)
Corresponding author
  • Federspiel, Frederik
  • Skovmand, Sofie
ORCID
Venue
International Journal of Infectious Diseases
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2020-04
Volume
93
Pages
28-39
ISSN
1201-9712 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1016/j.ijid.2020.01.012
OpenAlex
W3002195335
Cited by
81
References
0
Citations by year
2026: 8 · 2025: 16 · 2024: 17 · 2023: 9 · 2022: 14 · 2021: 9 · 2020: 8
FWCI
1.05
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • International Journal of Infectious Diseases (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • LSHTM Research Online (London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine) (acceptedVersion)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
  • University of Southern Denmark Research Portal (University of Southern Denmark) (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Animal Science and Zoology › Mollusks and Parasites Studies
  • Life Sciences › Immunology and Microbiology › Parasitology › Parasitic infections in humans and animals
  • Life Sciences › Immunology and Microbiology › Parasitology › Parasites and Host Interactions
Keywords
eosinophilic meningitis, Angiostrongylus cantonensis, angiostrongyliasis, imported parasitic infection, headache, cerebrospinal fluid eosinophilia, eosinophilia, cerebrospinal fluid protein, albendazole, mebendazole, anthelmintic treatment, clinical features
MeSH terms
Adolescent, Adult, Animals, Asia, Southeastern, Australia, Eosinophilia, Europe, Female, Humans, Infant, Male, Meningitis, Middle Aged, Polynesia, Snails, West Indies, Angiostrongylus cantonensis, Strongylida Infections, Seafood

About these checks

Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.

Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.

Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.

What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›

Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review