rat lungworm

nematode

Also known as: Angiostrongylus cantonensis

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Last updated

July 21, 2026

Quick Summary

Lungworm refers to parasitic nematodes that infest the lungs and air passages of mammals. The rat lungworm (Angiostrongylus cantonensis) is a specific type that normally parasitizes rats in Southeast Asia and the Pacific Islands.12

In humans, the rat lungworm can cause rat lungworm disease, a condition characterized by eosinophilic meningitis, which involves an increase of eosinophils in the central nervous system. The life cycle of lungworms can be direct or involve intermediate hosts like snails and slugs. Lungworms are distinct from lung flukes, which belong to a different phylum of worms.1

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escargot
…by a parasite called the rat lungworm (Angiostrongylus cantonensis), which causes eosinophilic meningitis. Snails can carry other parasites as well. Escargots, therefore, should not be eaten raw.
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…by a parasite called the rat lungworm (Angiostrongylus cantonensis), which causes eosinophilic meningitis. Snails can carry other parasites as well. Escargots, therefore, should not be eaten raw.
Read More