First report of Angiostrongylus costaricensis Morera and Céspedes 1971 in the United States
Ubelaker, J.E.; Hall, N.M.
Journal of Parasitology 65(2): 307
1979
ISSN/ISBN: 0022-3395 PMID: 448616 Document Number: 140452
During a routine examination of 397 Sigmodon hispidus from Texas, USA, 3 Angiostrongylus costaricensis (referred to as M. costaricensis in this paper) were recovered from one rat in 1970. The adult worms were found in the mesenteric arteries near the ileocaecal junction. Although Physaloptera hispida, Raillietina sigmodontis, Monoecocestus sigmodontis and M. cysticercus were commonly found during the survey, no other helminths were found in the animal infected with A. costaricensis. In 1977 another rat from another county in Texas was found infected; although coccidia were present, other helminths were absent. This is the first report of A. costaricensis within the continental United States.