Abstract

TEIXEIRA, Carlos Graeff et al. On the diversity of mollusc intermediate hosts of Angiostrongylus costaricensis Morera & Cespedes, 1971 in southern Brazil. Mem. Inst. Oswaldo Cruz [online]. 1993, vol.88, n.3, pp. 487-489. ISSN 0074-0276.  http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S0074-02761993000300020.

Veronicellid slugs are considered the most important intermediate hosts of Angiostrongylus costaricensis, an intra-arterial nematode of rodents. Studies undertaken in three localities in southern Brazil led to identification of molluscs other than veronicellid slugs as hosts of A. costaricensis: Limax maximus, Limax flavus and Bradybaena similaris. These data indicate a low host specificity of larval stages of A. costaricensis, as it has been reported to other congeneric species.

Keywords : Angiostrongylus costaricensis; Limax maximus; Limax flavus; Bradybaena similaris; Megalobulimus abbreviatus; abdominal angiostrongyliasis; veronicellid slugs.