Work

Rainfall- and Temperature-Driven Emergence of Neural Angiostrongyliasis in Eastern Australia, 2020–2024

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Neural angiostrongyliasis (NA), caused by rat lungworm (Angiostrongylus cantonensis), is an emerging zoonotic disease on Australia's east coast. The number of cases has risen since 2010. This study investigated the diagnosis, genetic diversity of A cantonensis, and spatial and temporal dynamics of canine NA (CNA). We analyzed cerebrospinal fluid samples from 180 clinically suspected cases (2020-2024) using AcanR3990 quantitative polymerase chain reaction, confirming infection in 93. Cases were detected around Brisbane and Sydney, with peak occurrence in 2022 (32 cases). Generalized linear modeling demonstrated that CNA occurrence depends on immediate and long-term rainfall (1- and 10- to 12-month lags) and medium-term temperature changes (5- to 7-month lags). Partial cox1 sequencing revealed Ac13 as the dominant haplotype (9/15). Comparison with an established enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay using 50 randomly selected samples showed substantial agreement (κ = 0.66). With many cases likely remaining undiagnosed, NA poses an ongoing One Health issue in Australia.

Source: The Journal of Infectious Diseases

DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jiaf173

Authors: Phoebe Rivory, Rogan Lee, Michael P Ward, Jan Šlapeta

Institutions: The University of Sydney, Westmead Hospital, NSW Health Pathology

Language: English

Topic: Mollusks and Parasites Studies

Subfield: Insect Science

Field: Agricultural and Biological Sciences

Domain: Life Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $4,763