Living in the city: Angiostrongylus cantonensis is a novel threat to an urban population of Florida burrowing owls (Athene cunicularia floridana) in south Florida
Abstract Background Angiostrongylus cantonensis, the rat lungworm, is a metastrongyloid parasite that uses rodents as definitive hosts, mollusks as intermediate hosts, and a wide range of invertebrate and vertebrate species as paratenic hosts. Although this parasite poses a significant public health...
| मुख्य लेखकों: | , , , , , , , , , , , , |
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| स्वरूप: | लेख |
| भाषा: | English |
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BMC
2025-02-01
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| श्रृंखला: | Parasites & Vectors |
| विषय: | |
| ऑनलाइन पहुंच: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-025-06700-7 |
| _version_ | 1826560394871701504 |
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| author | Håkon Jones Nicole M. Nemeth Brittany Piersma Rebecca Hardman Lisa A. Shender Raoul K. Boughton Kayla B. Garrett Nikole Castleberry P. J. Deitschel Xuan Hui Teo Rebecca Radisic Martha Frances Dalton Michael J. Yabsley |
| author_facet | Håkon Jones Nicole M. Nemeth Brittany Piersma Rebecca Hardman Lisa A. Shender Raoul K. Boughton Kayla B. Garrett Nikole Castleberry P. J. Deitschel Xuan Hui Teo Rebecca Radisic Martha Frances Dalton Michael J. Yabsley |
| author_sort | Håkon Jones |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Angiostrongylus cantonensis, the rat lungworm, is a metastrongyloid parasite that uses rodents as definitive hosts, mollusks as intermediate hosts, and a wide range of invertebrate and vertebrate species as paratenic hosts. Although this parasite poses a significant public health concern in many regions of the world, it can also cause disease in numerous domestic and wildlife aberrant host species. When parasite larvae are ingested by one of these aberrant hosts, larval migration in the central nervous system causes extensive damage, resulting in spinal cord and/or brain damage and inflammation, leading to potentially fatal neurological disease. We describe A. cantonensis infection in a novel host, the Florida burrowing owl (Athene cunicularia floridana), on Marco Island, Collier County, Florida, USA. The Florida burrowing owl is a state-listed species that has experienced steep population declines across its range, primarily due to habitat loss and fragmentation. Many populations are now restricted to urban environments, which pose novel threats to the owls, such as exposure to anticoagulant rodenticides and novel pathogens, increased risk of predation, vehicular strike, and increased disturbance at nest sites. Methods Through diagnostic evaluation of carcasses and select tissues submitted to the Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study from 2019 to 2023, we diagnosed nine confirmed or suspected cases of angiostrongylosis on Marco Island. Results Microscopic examination and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing confirmed parasite identification. In addition, ancillary testing ruled out other potential causes of neurological disease, such as rodenticides, West Nile virus, and highly pathogenic avian influenza virus. Conclusions This study underscores the importance of surveillance and monitoring efforts for A. cantonensis, particularly in regions where novel hosts may serve as indicators of public health risk. In addition, as urbanization and habitat fragmentation continue encroaching upon wildlife habitats, understanding the dynamics of host–parasite interactions becomes crucial for mitigating the spread of zoonotic diseases. Graphical Abstract |
| first_indexed | 2025-03-14T09:15:35Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-fb9256e74f16429da794df361b325d59 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1756-3305 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2025-03-14T09:15:35Z |
| publishDate | 2025-02-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Parasites & Vectors |
| spelling | doaj.art-fb9256e74f16429da794df361b325d592025-03-02T12:12:51ZengBMCParasites & Vectors1756-33052025-02-0118111210.1186/s13071-025-06700-7Living in the city: Angiostrongylus cantonensis is a novel threat to an urban population of Florida burrowing owls (Athene cunicularia floridana) in south FloridaHåkon Jones0Nicole M. Nemeth1Brittany Piersma2Rebecca Hardman3Lisa A. Shender4Raoul K. Boughton5Kayla B. Garrett6Nikole Castleberry7P. J. Deitschel8Xuan Hui Teo9Rebecca Radisic10Martha Frances Dalton11Michael J. Yabsley12Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of GeorgiaSoutheastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of GeorgiaSoutheastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of GeorgiaFlorida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Fish and Wildlife Research InstituteFlorida Fish and Wildlife Conservation CommissionThe Mosaic CompanySoutheastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of GeorgiaSoutheastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of GeorgiaConservancy of Southwest FloridaSoutheastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of GeorgiaSoutheastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of GeorgiaSoutheastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of GeorgiaSoutheastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of GeorgiaAbstract Background Angiostrongylus cantonensis, the rat lungworm, is a metastrongyloid parasite that uses rodents as definitive hosts, mollusks as intermediate hosts, and a wide range of invertebrate and vertebrate species as paratenic hosts. Although this parasite poses a significant public health concern in many regions of the world, it can also cause disease in numerous domestic and wildlife aberrant host species. When parasite larvae are ingested by one of these aberrant hosts, larval migration in the central nervous system causes extensive damage, resulting in spinal cord and/or brain damage and inflammation, leading to potentially fatal neurological disease. We describe A. cantonensis infection in a novel host, the Florida burrowing owl (Athene cunicularia floridana), on Marco Island, Collier County, Florida, USA. The Florida burrowing owl is a state-listed species that has experienced steep population declines across its range, primarily due to habitat loss and fragmentation. Many populations are now restricted to urban environments, which pose novel threats to the owls, such as exposure to anticoagulant rodenticides and novel pathogens, increased risk of predation, vehicular strike, and increased disturbance at nest sites. Methods Through diagnostic evaluation of carcasses and select tissues submitted to the Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study from 2019 to 2023, we diagnosed nine confirmed or suspected cases of angiostrongylosis on Marco Island. Results Microscopic examination and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing confirmed parasite identification. In addition, ancillary testing ruled out other potential causes of neurological disease, such as rodenticides, West Nile virus, and highly pathogenic avian influenza virus. Conclusions This study underscores the importance of surveillance and monitoring efforts for A. cantonensis, particularly in regions where novel hosts may serve as indicators of public health risk. In addition, as urbanization and habitat fragmentation continue encroaching upon wildlife habitats, understanding the dynamics of host–parasite interactions becomes crucial for mitigating the spread of zoonotic diseases. Graphical Abstracthttps://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-025-06700-7Rat lungwormAngiostrongylus cantonensisBurrowing owlNeurologicParasiteAthene cunicularia |
| spellingShingle | Håkon Jones Nicole M. Nemeth Brittany Piersma Rebecca Hardman Lisa A. Shender Raoul K. Boughton Kayla B. Garrett Nikole Castleberry P. J. Deitschel Xuan Hui Teo Rebecca Radisic Martha Frances Dalton Michael J. Yabsley Living in the city: Angiostrongylus cantonensis is a novel threat to an urban population of Florida burrowing owls (Athene cunicularia floridana) in south Florida Parasites & Vectors Rat lungworm Angiostrongylus cantonensis Burrowing owl Neurologic Parasite Athene cunicularia |
| title | Living in the city: Angiostrongylus cantonensis is a novel threat to an urban population of Florida burrowing owls (Athene cunicularia floridana) in south Florida |
| title_full | Living in the city: Angiostrongylus cantonensis is a novel threat to an urban population of Florida burrowing owls (Athene cunicularia floridana) in south Florida |
| title_fullStr | Living in the city: Angiostrongylus cantonensis is a novel threat to an urban population of Florida burrowing owls (Athene cunicularia floridana) in south Florida |
| title_full_unstemmed | Living in the city: Angiostrongylus cantonensis is a novel threat to an urban population of Florida burrowing owls (Athene cunicularia floridana) in south Florida |
| title_short | Living in the city: Angiostrongylus cantonensis is a novel threat to an urban population of Florida burrowing owls (Athene cunicularia floridana) in south Florida |
| title_sort | living in the city angiostrongylus cantonensis is a novel threat to an urban population of florida burrowing owls athene cunicularia floridana in south florida |
| topic | Rat lungworm Angiostrongylus cantonensis Burrowing owl Neurologic Parasite Athene cunicularia |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-025-06700-7 |
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