A half - snail , half - slug creature is probably responsible for the spread of a brain - invading parasite in Hawaii , grant to a study in theAmerican Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene .
This “ semi - slug ” is open of carrying a gamey tightness ofrat lungwormparasites , a little roundworm that affect the brain and spinal electric cord to produce meningitis - similar symptoms . Already this yr , five cases of the contagion have been account in both visitant and residents of the state , half that of 2018 ’s cases .
But to understand how the great unwashed come into contact with the leech , we first call for to understand its lifecycle . The grownup form of the parasiticnematodecan only be found in rodents , but snails and slug that eat rodent feces can become infected by the parasite in its adolescent phases . hoi polloi who consume these escargot , biff , and “ semi - slugs ” – whether intentional or inadvertent – can become taint with the rat lungworm .
research worker canvas compositor’s case diagnose between 2007 and 2017 and tallied up a amount of 82 infections , two of which were fatal . In the 10 - year study , annual infection rate tramp from a low gear of one case to a high of 21 . How people came into contact with the parasite , formerly known as Angiostrongyliasis , varied . One patient describe eating a poke , while others remark a escargot or slog at the bottom of their serving bowl . The pathway for infection was not found in most cases , though it ’s think that eat on vulgar green groceries could up a person ’s risk of photograph .
Infection is difficult to name as there is no readily available blood examination . fully grown patient role often report headache , a pie-eyed neck , fatigue , and symptoms consistent with meningitis and other neurological issues . In rarer case , people may experience temporary paralysis of the aspect and scant sensitivity . These symptoms normally start between one and three weeks after exposure but have been known to range between one twenty-four hours and six week , harmonize to theHawaii Department of Health . To diagnose contagion , physician will sometimes utilise a polymerase range response trial run to detect the DNA of the parasite in a patient ’s cerebrospinal fluid or other tissue , but more often than not they will diagnose the experimental condition based on a patient ’s vulnerability account .
There ’s no specific treatment other than waiting it out ; the parasite can not raise or reproduce in human race and will finally conk in their server , have potentially dangerous but treatable inflammation . That ’s why health officials say the good medicine is prevention . Do n’t use up crude or undercooked snails or slug – no matter how many times someone double presume you – and always moisten and inspect green groceries . Eliminating rodents , slugs , and snail from around the house may also help .
