Angiostrongylus cantonensis Infection on Mayotte Island, Indian Ocean, 2007-2012

International audienceHuman angiostrongyliasis (HA) is a neurological helminthic disease caused by the lung worm Angiostrongylus cantonensis. It is suspected in the combination of travel or a residence in an endemic area and eosinophilic meningitis. In Mayotte, an island in the Indian Ocean, cases are rare but regular. The main objective of our study was to describe the epidemiological and diagnosis clues of HA in Mayotte. The secondary objectives were to evaluate the contribution of Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT- PCR) for the diagnosis of HA, delineate the characteristics of the local transmission and ascertain the presence of A. cantonensis in Achatina fulica, the potential vector of the disease

Amplification curves of six patients positive by Polymerase Chain Reaction and the positive control.

<p>Amplification curves of six patients positive by Polymerase Chain Reaction and the positive control.</p

Number of <i>Achatina fulica</i> (African Giant Snail) positive to <i>Angiostrongylus cantonensis</i> with real time PCR and number of collected snails in the place of residence of every sick child.

<p>Number of <i>Achatina fulica</i> (African Giant Snail) positive to <i>Angiostrongylus cantonensis</i> with real time PCR and number of collected snails in the place of residence of every sick child.</p

Monthly repartition of the cases and average pluviometry.

<p>Monthly repartition of the cases and average pluviometry.</p

Flow chart of the study.

<p><i>Ac</i>: <i>Angiostrongylus cantonensis</i>; CSF: Cerebrospinal fluid; PCR: Polymerase Chain Reaction. * Eosinophilic meningitis: ≥ 10 eosinophils /mm3 in CSF or ≥10% WBC). ** Meningitis: ≥ 10 WBC in CSF.</p

Comparison of dead and alive children 1 year after <i>A</i>. <i>cantonensis</i> infection.

<p>Comparison of dead and alive children 1 year after <i>A</i>. <i>cantonensis</i> infection.</p

Characteristics of the 14 children with nervous angiostrongyliasis and comparison with the 3 main available paediatric series in the literature.

<p>Characteristics of the 14 children with nervous angiostrongyliasis and comparison with the 3 main available paediatric series in the literature.</p

Characteristics of the 14 patients with <i>Angiostrongylus cantonensis</i> infection.

<p>Characteristics of the 14 patients with <i>Angiostrongylus cantonensis</i> infection.</p

Amplification curves of six patients positive by Polymerase Chain Reaction and the positive control.

<p>Amplification curves of six patients positive by Polymerase Chain Reaction and the positive control.</p