Preventing meningitis caused by parasites

[Bob Orts]

The Star Bulletin has the story on Ms Strauch. It said she's in a coma. Sounds like attempts were made to properly wash the vegetables before eating them. It also sounds like its a rare illness and HMC missed the diagnosis.

[ef9]

Honestly, after reading and hearing about this meningitis going around (through slugs and snails), I told my wife I do not want to eat produce from our own yard, or from the farmers market. I'd rather eat the produce out of the KTA Puainako store. I was so scared of getting sick, or worse...

[AlohaSteven]

Well, crap.

Short version: evidence exists rat lungworms can make birds ill and kill them, so it is probably better to not feed raw slugs and snails to your parrots or other birds, but since birds (like humans) are an accidental definitive host for rat lungworm it would probably be difficult to impossible for humans to become infected by eating contaged chicken, duck, et cetera. Still, cooking all meats thoroughly is generally a good idea given all the various other types of diseases which certainly can be acquired by eating undercooked or raw meat.

Long version, with details:

There is at least one validated report on record of rat lungworm larvae infecting birds:

A captive yellow-tailed black cockatoo (Calyptorhynchus funereus) and 2 free-living tawny frogmouths (Podargus strigoides), both native Australian species, were presented with neurologic signs including depression and pelvic limb paresis and paralysis. Despite supportive treatment, all 3 birds died or were euthanatized. On histologic examination, sections of metastrongyloid nematode larvae were found in the central nervous system of all 3 birds, whereas intact larvae, identified as Angiostrongylus cantonensis, were recovered from the brain and spinal cord of 2 birds. Angiostrongylus cantonensis, the rat lungworm, has an obligatory migratory phase through the host's central nervous system, which can cause severe pathologic lesions. Natural infections in accidental hosts have been documented only in mammals, and to our knowledge, angiostrongyliasis in avian hosts has not been previously reported.

[Abstract from, Angiostrongylus cantonensis as a Cause of Cerebrospinal Disease in a Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoo (Calyptorhynchus funereus) and Two Tawny Frogmouths (Podargus strigoides). Authors, Deborah J. Monks, BVSc, MACVSc (Avian Health), CertZooMed, Melissa S. Carlisle, BVSc, PhD, FACVSc, Mark Carrigan, BVSc, Karrie Rose, DVM, DVSc, David Spratt, BSc, MSc, PhD, Adrian Gallagher, BVSc, MACVSc (Avian Health), and Paul Prociv, MBBS, PhD, FRACP, FRCPA. In, Journal of Avian Medicine and Surgery, Volume 19, Issue 4 (December 2005), pp. 289–293. Retrieved online 06JAN2009 from http://www.bioone.org/perlserv/?request=get-document&doi=10.1647%2F2004-024.1&ct=1 ]

Over in a thread on Punaweb's farm and garden folder there was quite a discussion awhile back about snails and parasites (http://www.punaweb.org/Forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=6347&whichpage=2) in which Carey commented Puna's myna birds enjoy eating sun-baked snails after the proverbial tire has met the pavement with mollusc (and an associated load of parasites, evidently) between. I wonder if the asphalt-baking is enough to neutralize the A. cantonensis larvae or if the myna birds are resistant to larval infection?

I'll see if I can contact Monks, et. al., and find out what else they have learned (if anything) about metastrongyloid-caused pathology in birds, particularly in domestic poultry, since this 2005 report of morbidity and mortality in cockatoos and tawny frogmouths.

Are there any avian vets, experienced Puna chicken farmers, or poultry specialists of any sort in this forum? Please do speak up and contribute your expertise, if so. Seems unlikely to me that A. cantonensis would be the source of a big pathology problem in birds if we do not already know all about it from broad occurrence. Then again, Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders being caused by alcohol consumption during pregnancy and lung cancer commonly resulting from smoking are as obvious as can be but how long did it take to establish those plain facts?

Please note the CDC says regarding routes of human infection "People can get infected by eating raw or undercooked snails or slugs that are infected with this parasite. In some cultures, snails are commonly eaten. Some children, in particular, have gotten infected by swallowing snails/slugs “on a dare.” People also can get infected by accident, by eating raw produce (such as lettuce) that contains a small snail or slug or part of one. Other ways of getting infected may include eating raw or undercooked freshwater prawns, crabs, or frogs. Of note, fish do not spread this parasite." [http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dpd/parasites/...ngylus.htm] The CDC does not mention birds as a source of human infection.

If I am reading the life cycle for A. cantonensis correctly then basically these cockatoos are having the same problem people do when they accidentally ingest infective material. Remember "...Within mollusks, the larvae develop and molt twice to become infective third-stage larvae. The life cycle is complete when the rodent or other definitive host eats infected mollusks, and third-stage larvae are released during transit through the rodent intestine. These larvae migrate to the brain and meninges, molting twice to become adults. This takes approximately one month, at which time young adults migrate to the pulmonary arteries, mate, and begin ovipostion.

Humans are accidental definitive hosts in whom the life cycle of the parasite is similar to that in rodents, except that larvae in humans do not mature to adults. Ingestion of raw or undercooked mollusks containing infective third stage larvae results in infection. The incubation period is approximately three weeks, but may be longer. As larvae penetrate into the central nervous system, they cause damage mechanically and also through inflammation of the brain parenchyma and meninges. Spinal cord involvement is uncommon. Wandering larvae and young adults are approximately 2 mm in length and 1 to 5 µm in diameter." [http://www.isradiology.org/tropical_dese...trong3.htm]

In other words while A. cantonensis may turn out to be some degree of a problem for Puna birds ranging from pet parrrots to poultry flocks, it would probably be difficult to nearly impossible for humans to become infected with A. cantonensis by eating bird meat even if we were eating undercooked or raw bird flesh (which rarely happens). So, at least that much is good news.

The bottom line as I figure it from this report seems to be "Do not feed raw slugs and snails to your parrots and other birds" (...and thoroughly cooking any meats you eat is still a good idea).



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"Facts are stubborn things; and whatever may be our wishes, our inclinations, or the dictates of our passion, they cannot alter the state of facts and evidence."

Pres. John Adams, Scholar and Statesman


"There's a scientific reason to be concerned and there's a scientific reason to push for action. But there's no scientific reason to despair."

NASA climate analyst Gavin Schmidt

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[Shekelpal]

Bumping this because there is a meeting with the Dept. of Health and some researchers on the island who will be at SPACE in Seaview tomorrow, Saturday at 12 noon. This meeting is about rat lung worm, angiostronglylus cantonensis, Many doctors on the island do not know anything about this illness and one of the reasons for this meeting is to try to get the Dept. of Health to get the word out to physicians and for people to have a forum to talk about preventative measures for the illness.

[Greg]

I'd like to re-emphasize the benefits of growing on a benchtop. Mine is made of rigid wire (Miranda's), 5' x 20', and supported by concrete blocks every few feet. (stacked two high - about 3 feet off the ground - no bending!)

I've been doing "benchtop" about a year now, and I haven't seen a single slug yet. I spray a little herbicide underneath so there's no vegetation below to attract critters. Spraying gently with low pressure and no wind prevents "drift".

Works very good with containers of lettuce, beans, peppers, cherry tomatoes, japanese cukes, herbs, and starts.

Thanks for the copper barrier tip. I'll try wrapping the cinderblocks with it as a precaution.


edit- bench dimensions

[kani-lehua]

yes. the copper barrier tip is good info. we'll be doing that for the papaya trees as i've been on "slug control" these last several days.

"chaos reigns within.
reflect, repent and reboot.
order shall return."

microsoft error message with haiku poetry

[Seeb]

Thanks! to the people at S.P.A.C.E. for putting on the lecture today

[StillHope]

Anything of practical use except for washing the produce you learned from the meeting?

[AlohaSteven]

Approximately how many folks attended the mtg at S.P.A.C.E., did any govt or public health officials speak to the issues, and what was discussed by the group in the way of concerns and potential solutions?

I do wish I had been able to attend but will not be on-island again for a couple more weeks.



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"Facts are stubborn things; and whatever may be our wishes, our inclinations, or the dictates of our passion, they cannot alter the state of facts and evidence."

Pres. John Adams, Scholar and Statesman


"There's a scientific reason to be concerned and there's a scientific reason to push for action. But there's no scientific reason to despair."

NASA climate analyst Gavin Schmidt

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[Seeb]

http://www.bigislandvideonews.com/puna/2...ngworm.htm