Oh Rats! Part II
Community Contributed
By Glenn I. Teves, County Extension Agent, UH CTAHR
A serious disease spread by rats is in the headlines in Hawaii recently. Angiostrongyliasis, also known as the Rat Lungworm Infection, is caused by a microscopic nematode or eelworm. The adult stage of this nematode lives only in rats, while the immature form or the larvae are passed from the rat droppings to other animals, especially snails and slugs, and even prawns.
Humans ingest the lung worm when they eat slugs and snails hidden in produce, such as lettuce and uncooked greens, and also raw or undercooked snails (escargot) and prawns.…