Mollusks and Parasites Studies

Researchers studying mollusks and their parasites investigate how nematodes like *Angiostrongylus cantonensis* use snails and slugs as intermediate hosts before completing their life cycles in mammals, sometimes including humans, where larval migration into the nervous system can cause eosinophilic meningitis. The spread of invasive snail species—such as the giant African land snail—has intensified these concerns, as non-native mollusks can both amplify parasite transmission and disrupt native biodiversity by outcompeting indigenous species. A central challenge is mapping how invasive range expansion alters the geographic distribution of *Angiostrongylus* infection risk in human and animal populations. Ongoing work is also examining how mollusk community composition affects parasite prevalence, and whether controlling invasive snail populations can serve as a practical lever for reducing disease burden.

Works

111,255

Total citations

289,201

Keywords

SnailsParasitismAngiostrongylusMollusksInvasive SpeciesEosinophilic Meningitis