Potentially Deadly Parasite Found In Florida Counties

GAINESVILLE, FL — University of Florida researchers have found evidence of a potentially deadly parasite in five counties across the state, including Hillsborough. The study was designed to determine the geographic distribution of the rat lungworm, which is known to cause meningitis in humans.

To determine the distribution in Florida, UF’s research team collected samples from the lungworm’s most common hosts: rats and snails. Samples were taken from 18 counties across the state. When the samples were analyzed, the research team found evidence of the lungworm in Hillsborough, Orange, Alachua, Leon and St. Johns counties.

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According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Angiostrongylus parasite can cause “severe gastrointestinal or central nervous system disease in humans depending on the species.” The species found in Florida is commonly known as the rat lungworm. It has been linked with meningitis.

The rat lungworm “is relatively new to the continental United States,” according to UF’s study. The parasite is believed to have been introduced into the country in the 1980s, spread by rats arriving on ships in New Orleans. Only a few human infections have been noted in the United States since then, the researchers noted. An orangutan in Miami-Dade County, however, died following exposure to a contaminated snail in 2012, according to the study.

The CDC says human infection is rare and generally occurs through “unusual circumstances.” People may be exposed by eating raw or improperly cooked snails or slugs that are infected with the parasite. “Some children, in particular, have gotten infected by swallowing snails/slugs ‘on a dare,’ ” the CDC warned, referring to a 1993 case out of New Orleans where a boy ate a slug and got sick. The boy “became ill a few weeks later, with muscle aches, headache, stiff neck, a slight fever, and vomiting,” the CDC said. The child, however, did get better without treatment.

UF’s research team warns that the study’s findings may not tell the full story about the rat lungworm’s prevalence in the Sunshine State. “The reality is that this zoonotic nematode is probably more widespread than indicated here,” the study's authors noted.

To protect against exposure, the CDC recommends against eating raw or undercooked frogs, slugs, shrimp and prawns. “If you handle snails or slugs, wear gloves and wash your hands,” the CDC’s website says. “Always remember to thoroughly wash fresh produce. When travelling in areas where the parasite is common, avoid eating uncooked vegetables.”

People who suspect exposure are advised to see their doctors.

For more information about the study, read UF’s full report.

To learn more about the rat lungworm, visit the CDC online.

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