MATERIAL SAFETY DATA SHEET - INFECTIOUS SUBSTANCES

SECTION I - INFECTIOUS AGENT

NAME: Angiostrongylus cantonensis

SYNONYM OR CROSS REFERENCE: Parastrongylus cantonensis; angiostrongyliasis, eosinophilic meningoencephalitis, eosinophilic meningitis

CHARACTERISTICS: A nematode found in the lungs of rats; eggs are hatched in the lungs and larvae are swallowed, expelled in faeces to seek a molluscan intermediate host where the parasite develops into the third-stage larva

SECTION II - HEALTH HAZARD

PATHOGENICITY: Infection may be asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic; causes eosinophilic meningitis characterized by severe headache, stiff neck, and various paresthesias; facial paralysis occurs in 5% of patients; illness may last few days to several months; death is rare. Humans are dead end hosts in natural cycle

EPIDEMIOLOGY: Epidemics and sporadic infections most common in South Pacific, Southeast Asia, and Taiwan

HOST RANGE: Humans, rodents, molluscs

INFECTIOUS DOSE: Not known

MODE OF TRANSMISSION: Primarily by eating improperly cooked snails, slugs, prawns, fish and land crabs; vegetables and fruit contaminated with small molluscs or slugs may serve as a source of infection

INCUBATION PERIOD: Usually 1-3 weeks; can be shorter or longer

COMMUNICABILITY: Not transmitted from person to person

SECTION III - DISSEMINATION

RESERVOIR: Rat (Rattus and Bandicota species)

ZOONOSIS: Yes

VECTORS: Molluscs - snails, slugs, land crabs, prawns

SECTION IV - VIABILITY

DRUG SUSCEPTIBILITY: Sensitive to albendazole, mebendazole

SUSCEPTIBILITY TO DISINFECTANTS: Susceptible to 1% sodium hypochlorite, 2% glutaraldehyde

PHYSICAL INACTIVATION: Larvae destroyed by boiling 3-5 min. Or freezing at -15°C for 24 hrs

SURVIVAL OUTSIDE HOST: Larvae survives for 1 week in tap water

SECTION V - MEDICAL

SURVEILLANCE: Monitor for symptoms (eosinophils in CSF); confirm by microscopic demonstration of worms or larva

FIRST AID/TREATMENT: Administer appropriate drug therapy

IMMUNIZATION: None available

PROPHYLAXIS: None available

SECTION VI - LABORATORY HAZARDS

LABORATORY-ACQUIRED INFECTIONS: None reported

SOURCES/SPECIMENS: Cerebrospinal fluids, molluscs

PRIMARY HAZARDS: Accidental parenteral inoculation

SPECIAL HAZARDS: None

SECTION VII - RECOMMENDED PRECAUTIONS

CONTAINMENT REQUIREMENTS: Biosafety level 2 practices and containment for activities involving infective stage of parasites, infectious body tissues and fluids

PROTECTIVE CLOTHING: Laboratory coat; gloves when skin contact with infectious materials is unavoidable

OTHER PRECAUTIONS: Good personal hygiene and frequent handwashing

SECTION VIII - HANDLING INFORMATION

SPILLS: Allow aerosols to settle; wearing protective clothing, gently cover spill with absorbent paper towel and apply 1% sodium hypochlorite starting at the perimeter and working towards the center; allow sufficient contact time (30 min) before clean up

DISPOSAL: Decontaminate all wastes before disposal; steam sterilization, chemical disinfection, incineration

STORAGE: In sealed containers that are appropriately labelled

SECTION IX - MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION

Date prepared: November 1999

Prepared by: Office of Laboratory Security, PHAC

Although the information, opinions and recommendations contained in this Material Safety Data Sheet are compiled from sources believed to be reliable, we accept no responsibility for the accuracy, sufficiency, or reliability or for any loss or injury resulting from the use of the information. Newly discovered hazards are frequent and this information may not be completely up to date.

Copyright ©
Health Canada, 2001

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