Occurrence of Rat Lungworm (Angiostrongylus cantonensis) in Invasive Coqui Frogs (Eleutherodactylus coqui) and Other Hosts in Hawaii, USA

Abstract: The rat lungworm (Angiostrongylus cantonensis) has emerged as an important human and animal health concern in Hawaii, US. Although the life cycle of the parasite requires both rat and gastropod hosts, other animals acting as paratenic hosts, such as frogs and centipedes, have been identified as sources of infection. We investigated the occurrence of rat lungworm infections in potential paratenic hosts in Hawaii to provide information on how they might be involved in transmission of angiostrongyliasis. We confirmed the presence of rat lungworm in 87% (21/24) of introduced Puerto Rican coqui frogs (Eleutherodactylus coqui) in Hilo, Hawaii, by real-time PCR. Additionally, four Cuban greenhouse frogs (Eleutherodactylus planirostris), two cane toads (Rhinella marina), and three centipedes (Scolopendra subspinipes) were found to be infected. In the frogs and toads, multiple tissue types were positive, including stomach and intestine, muscle, liver, heart, and brain, indicating larval migration. We identified rat lungworm infections in frogs, toads, and centipedes in Hawaii and highlighted the lack of knowledge of the role paratenic hosts may be playing in the transmission and life cycle maintenance of rat lungworm in Hawaii.