[Investigation on Angiostrongylus cantonensis infection in rodents in Guangdong Province].

Objective: To investigate the natural infection of Angiostrongylus cantonensis in Guangdong Province, and to provide the scientific evidence for control measures.

Methods: The investigation was carried out in 56 villages of 28 towns of 28 counties/districts in East Guangdong, West Guangdong, the mountain area of North Guangdong and Peal River Delta of the Province from 2005 to 2010. The rodents were captured with live trap and the species identified. Angiostrongylus cantonensis adult worms were collected from the hearts and lungs of rodents, examined, counted and the sex of worms identified.

Results: The rodents were captured from 2005 to 2010, belonged to 2 orders, 2 families (subfamily), 4 genera and 10 species. Seven species of the rodents were found infected with Angiostrongylus cantonensis in all 28 counties/districts. Totally 5 820 rats were examined and 496 infected ones were identified, with a mean infection rate of 8.52%. The infection rate of rodents was highest in the Peal River Delta, reaching 9.8% (205/2084) (chi2=15.25, P<0.01). Rattus norvegicus had the highest infection rate of 16.9% (310/1 835) (chi2=240.91, P<0.01). The mean intensity of infection was 6.1 worms/rat. 1 125 female and 1064 male worms were found respectively (chi2=1.75, P>0.05).

Conclusion: Natural infection of Angiostrongylus cantonensis in rodents has been found in all the 56 villages selected from the 4 regions of Guangdong Province.