Levels of infection with the lungworm XXXX in terrestrial snails from Thailand, with Cryptozona siamensis as a new intermediate host.

@entity1 @entity3853 @entity5422 @entity693 @entity23699 @entity67964 @entity22729
UNASSIGNED: @entity23699 is primarily considered an emerging infectious agent of @entity693 or @entity5422 with a worldwide distribution. Rodents and snails are important invasive hosts for transmission and expansion of A. cantonensis. The objective of this study was to investigate infection levels of A. cantonensis in snails, the most important natural intermediate host. Our study location was Mueang Kamphaeng Phet district, Kamphaeng Phet Province, and was undertaken between October and December 2012. A total of 2228 freshwater and terrestrial snails were collected, comprising 1119 Filopaludina spp., 409 Pomacea caniculata, 275 Achatina fulica and 425 Cryptozona siamensis. @entity23699 larvae were isolated by artificial digestion methods following Baermann's techniques. A low prevalence and intensity of A. cantonensis were observed in A. fulica, while higher numbers were found in @entity22729 . None of the Filopaludina spp. and Pomacea caniculata were infected with A. cantonensis. Molecular characterization was performed by analysing the 264  bp of @entity67964 ( @entity67964 ). Three @entity67964 sequences of @entity23699 were identical to A. cantonensis with 91-99% identity. Cryptozona siamensis has not previously been recorded as an intermediate host for A. cantonensis in Thailand. The infection of A. cantonensis identified in the natural intermediate hosts is new and important information to assist in the prevention and control of @entity1 @entity3853 .
