Life history and redescription of Angiostrongylus costaricensis Morera and Céspedes, 1971
Morera, P.
American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene 22(5): 613-621
1973
ISSN/ISBN: 0002-9637 PMID: 4729741 Document Number: 63702
In Costa Rica, the life-cycle of Angiostrongylus costaricensis was completed experimentally in Vaginulus (Sarasinula) plebeius and Sigmodon hispidus. First-stage larvae from the faeces of naturally infected cotton-rats were placed on lettuce leaves, which were eaten by uninfected slugs. The first moult took place on the 4th day after ingestion and the 2nd on days 11 to 14. The 3rd-stage larva retained the casts of the first 2 moults. 10 rats were given about 2,500 3rd-stage larvae each by stomach tube, and a further 10 were given 200 to 500 larvae each. The larvae moved to the ileocaecal region, penetrated the intestinal wall within 2 hours and most had entered the abdominal lymphatics by 12 to 24 hours. The 3rd moult occurred on days 3 to 4 and the 4th on days 5 to 7. By the 10th day, all had migrated to the mesenteric arteries and the lesions produced are described; oviposition had begun by day 18 and first-stage larvae appeared in the host faeces on day 24. The larvae and adults are described and illustrated and the life-cycle is compared with those of other species of the genus. An addendum notes the erection by Chabaud 1972 of Morerastrongylus costaricensis n.g., n.comb. for A. costaricensis.