Table. Epidemiologic and clinical findings from 11 reported case-patients with Angiostrongylus cantonensis infection, Europe*.
| Country, year of report | Patient age, y/ sex | Possible country of origin | Suspected food | Clinical features | Diagnosis | Treatment | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| France, 1988 | 1/F | Tahiti | Not reported | Eosinophillic meningoencephalitis, lumbosacral myeloradiculitis, tetraplegia coma, hypertensive hydrocephalus, paresthesias | IFA | Thiabendazole, steroids, ventriculoperitoneal catheter | (1) |
| Switzerland, 1995 | 46/F | Tahiti | Freshwater shrimp | Eosinophilic meningoradiculits | Clinical | Supportive | (2) |
| France, 1996 | 25/F | Tahiti | Raw fish | Eosinophilic meningitis, paresthesias (left lower leg) | Clinical | Supportive | (3) |
| France, 2002 | 16/M | Tahiti | Not reported | Eosinophilic meningoencephalitis, cranial palsy (n. abducens), cerebellar syndrome, paresthesias | IFA | Ivermectin | (4) |
| Switzerland, 2004 | 26/M | Cuba | Not reported | Eosinophilic meningitis, generalized hyperesthesias | WB | Supportive | (5) |
| Germany, 2006 | 27/F | Dominican Republic | Not reported | Eosinophilic meningitis, paresthesias (right elbow, right thigh) | WB | Albendazole, steroids | (6) |
| Italy, 2007 | 30/M | Dominican Republic | Freshwater shrimp | Eosinophilic meningitis, generalized paresthesias | Clinical | Mebendazole,† steroids | (7) |
| UK, 2007 | 30/F | Thailand | Snails | Eosinophilic meningitis, cranial nerve palsy (right n. abducens), altered sensation (lateral border of right leg) | Serologic‡ | Supportive | (8) |
| Belgium, 2008 | 22/F | Costa Rica, Ecuador, Chile, Argentina, Fiji Islands | Sashimi, ceviche (raw fish), salads | Eosinophilic meningitis, paresthesias (left hemithorax, feet) | WB | Albendazole, steroids | (9) |
| France, 2008§ | 26–36/M | French Polynesia | Uncooked freshwater prawns | Eosinophilic meningitis¶ | Clinical | Ivermectin (1 patient) or albendazole; steroids (1 patient) | (10) |
| Croatia | 47/M | Malaysia, Singapore | Vegetables, salads, shrimp# | Eosinophilic meningitis, lumbosacral myeloradiculitis (conus medullaris syndrome), generalized paresthesias | WB | Supportive (repeated lumbar puncture) | This study |
*Ref., reference; IFA, immunofluorescent antibody assay; WB, Western blot. †One dose only. ‡Method not specified. §Five French policemen. ¶Diagnosis confirmed by cerebrospinal fluid analysis in only 1 patient. #The patient thought he consumed saltwater shrimp but was uncertain.