Have you ever heard of this parasitic infection, “angiostrongylid worm” or “rat lung worm”? Believe it or not, Thai people are infected with this roundworm the most in the world. This parasite can be found in many continents globally, adapting and living well in different habitats and landscapes including urban community, peri-domestic and wilderness areas. They can parasitize a variety of animal hosts, especially invasive alien species such as rodents and mollusks, which are the definitive and intermediate hosts of the parasite, respectively. Ingestion of infective larvae contaminated in food and water is recognized as the main route of infection. The movement of parasitic larvae into the brain affects the nervous system causing eosinophilic meningitis and other neurological disorders. Consumption behavior and awareness of good hygiene are important factors in minimizing exposure to the parasitic diseases.
Let’s get to know more about this parasitic disease through a short cartoon story and the parasitic disease documentaries produced by the Department of Helminthology and the Educational Technology and Art Unit, the Faculty of Tropical Medicine.
Kittipong Chaisiri
ภาพการ์ตูนประกอบสารคดี
