Genetic Characterization and Detection of Angiostrongylus cantonensis by Molecular Approaches

Angiostrongylus cantonensis constitutes a major etiologic agent of eosinophilic meningoencephalitis. The detection methods for angiostrongyliasis mainly depend on morphology or immunology. A firmer diagnosis could be reached by directly detecting the parasite in the cerebrospinal fluid or through laboratory assays that are specific for Angiostrongylus-induced antibodies or the parasite's DNA. A. cantonensis detection could be carried out by larva release from the tissue upon pepsin digestion. However, the procedure requires live mollusks, which might complicate the analysis of large amounts of samples. Since morphological assays are limited, multiple molecular techniques have been put forward for detecting A. cantonensis, including PCR amplification of targets followed by fragment length or DNA sequence analysis. This allows rapid and accurate identification of A. cantonensis for efficient infection management and epidemiological purposes. In this study, we reviewed the current methods, concepts, and applications of molecular approaches to better understand the genetic characterization, molecular detection methods, and practical application of molecular detection in A. cantonensis.

Automated summary

The detection of Angiostrongylus cantonensis primarily relies on morphology or immunology by detecting the parasite or specific antibodies or DNA in the cerebrospinal fluid; molecular techniques, such as PCR amplification followed by DNA sequence analysis, are proposed for efficient and accurate identification. Larva release from tissue upon pepsin digestion is another method to detect A. cantonensis, but it requires live mollusks, potentially complicating large-scale analysis. Morphological assays are limited, prompting the development of molecular approaches for better detection, management, and study purposes.