Eosinophilic meningitis due to A. Cantonensis revealed at autopsy

Abstract

Parasitic infection of the central nervous system could be fatal, and its incidence is rising due to increasing worldwide travel. Amongst the various nematodes, Angiostrongylus contonensis is the commonest and causes eosinophilic meningitis. It is a zoonotic disease produced due to the ingestion of raw or undercooked snails or slugs. Most cases of angiostrongyliasis are mild and self-limiting, but death can occur in severe cases lacking timely and proper treatment. Very few autopsy cases of A. cantonensis are reported. We present the case of a 32-year-old mentally challenged orphan male with eosinophilic meningitis at autopsy.

Keywords

• angiostrongylus cantonensis
• eosinophilic meningitis