Meeting Banner
Abstract #3692

Longitudinal Effects on Rat Brain of Different Degrees Infection by Angiostrongylus Cantonensis

Ling-Yuh Shyu1, Hao-Hung Tsai2, 3, Yi-Hsin Wang2, Shin-Tai Chong2, 4, Jun-Cheng Weng2, 3

1Department of Parasitology, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan; 2School of Medical Imaging and Radiological Sciences, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan; 3Department of Medical Imaging, Chung Shan Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan; 4Institute of Neuroscience, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan

Angiostrongylus cantonensis (A. cantonensis) is a zoonotic nematode parasite residing in the pulmonary arteries and brain of rats. It was first identified and described by Chen in Canton, China, and was reported to cause human diseases in 1945 in Taiwan. Now A. cantonensis is the major cause human eosinophilic meningitis in Taiwan. However, the features of the pathological changes in the brain were limited to diagnostic techniques. Previously the diagnosis was established by immunodiagnosis, lumbar puncture and eosinophilia examination. Fourth- or fifth-stage larvae could be found in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) with lumbar puncture. Improper puncture and false immune response resulted in an erroneous diagnosis. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to longitudinally monitor the lesion localization, pathological changes and angiostrongyliasis characterization of rat brain infected with different numbers of A. cantonensis larvae by MRI techniques. The results were also verified with histopathological study. The association between the clinical features of the rats and MRI findings was also addressed.

Abstract PDF Presentation Video

Keywords

abnormal acute administration advances anesthetized annals arrow association barrier became blood body brain brains canton cause caused characterization china clinical coil collected consisted contrast control damaged days decay decreased degrees described detection determine diagnosis diagnostic disease diseases enhanced erroneous established examination experiment extent false fast features fifth findings flair fluid fourth full generally half hemorrhage human hung immediately immune improper infected infection inflection injecting injury inoculated intensities intensity invasive inversion larva larvae lasted late lesion lesions limited localizing longer longitudinal longitudinally loop lumbar magnetization maintained major male mapping materials medical meningitis mild ming mixed moreover near nematode parasite parasitology pathological permanently permeability pixel previously progression puncture radiological rats recovered recovery residing resolution response sample scanning school sciences sensitive sensitivity serious sets severe shin shortening slice snails solution sonata space spatial spin stage suggested superior surface survival system temperature third tissue transverse tube turbo variable ventricle ventricles verified water weighing whole world