First Record of Angiostrongylus cantonensis （Nematoda: Metastrongylidae）Infection in Ryukyu Long-Furred Rats (Diplothrix legata)

Abstract

Although parasitism of Angiostrongylus cantonensis in wild rats including black rats (Rattus rattus) in the Yambaru area, Okinawa Prefecture, Japan, has been documented by confirmed cases, the pathogenicity and status of infection in the indigenous species of Ryukyu long-furred rats (Diplothrix legata) have not yet been elucidated. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first reported case of A. cantonensis infection that resulted in the death of a Ryukyu long-furred rat, which revealed the pathogenicity of A. cantonensis. As the zoonosis, A. cantonensis infections may adversely affect not only humans but also wild animals, and could in particular, be a major threat for the Yambaru area, which hosts a large number of rare species of wild animals.