Correction: Diverse Gastropod Hosts of Angiostrongylus cantonensis, the Rat Lungworm, Globally and with a Focus on the Hawaiian Islands.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0094969.]

Diverse Gastropod Hosts of <i>Angiostrongylus cantonensis</i>, the Rat Lungworm, Globally and with a Focus on the Hawaiian Islands

<div><p>Eosinophilic meningitis caused by the parasitic nematode <i>Angiostrongylus cantonensis</i> is an emerging infectious disease with recent outbreaks primarily in tropical and subtropical locations around the world, including Hawaii. Humans contract the disease primarily through ingestion of infected gastropods, the intermediate hosts of <i>Angiostrongylus cantonensis</i>. Effective prevention of the disease and control of the spread of the parasite require a thorough understanding of the parasite's hosts, including their distributions, as well as the human and environmental factors that contribute to transmission. The aim of this study was to screen a large cross section of gastropod species throughout the main Hawaiian Islands to determine which act as hosts of <i>Angiostrongylus cantonensis</i> and to assess the parasite loads in these species. Molecular screening of 7 native and 30 non-native gastropod species revealed the presence of the parasite in 16 species (2 native, 14 non-native). Four of the species tested are newly recorded hosts, two species introduced to Hawaii (<i>Oxychilus alliarius</i>, <i>Cyclotropis</i> sp.) and two native species (<i>Philonesia</i> sp., <i>Tornatellides</i> sp.). Those species testing positive were from a wide diversity of heterobranch taxa as well as two distantly related caenogastropod taxa. Review of the global literature showed that many gastropod species from 34 additional families can also act as hosts. There was a wide range of parasite loads among and within species, with an estimated maximum of 2.8 million larvae in one individual of <i>Laevicaulis alte</i>. This knowledge of the intermediate host range of <i>Angiostrongylus cantonensis</i> and the range of parasite loads will permit more focused efforts to detect, monitor and control the most important hosts, thereby improving disease prevention in Hawaii as well as globally.</p></div

The extent of gastropod sampling throughout the main Hawaiian Islands.

<p>To show the broad geographic coverage, the map includes only sites 10 km or more away from each other.</p

Infection rates for gastropod species that tested positive in this study.

<p>Levels of infection vary considerably from 68% infection in <i>Parmarion martensi</i> to 1% in <i>Tornatellides</i> sp.</p