Encephalitis Caused by Angiostrongylus cantonensis after Eating Raw Frogs Mixed with Wine as a Health Supplement

• Published in: Internal Medicine Vol. 50; no. 7; pp. 771 - 774
• Main Authors: Lai, Ping-Hong, Chen, Yao-Shen, Tsai, Hung-Chin, Lee, Susan Shin-Jung, Wann, Shue-Ren, Yen, Chuan-Min, Sy, Cheng-Len
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Japan The Japanese Society of Internal Medicine 01.01.2011
• Subjects: Aged; Amphibia; Angiostrongylus cantonensis; Angiostrongylus cantonensis - isolation & purification; Animals; Anura; Brain - parasitology; Brain - pathology; Case reports; Dietary Supplements - adverse effects; Encephalitis; Encephalitis - parasitology; Encephalitis - pathology; eosinophilic meningitis; Female; Glucocorticoids - therapeutic use; Humans; Infection; Islands; Leukocytes (eosinophilic); Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Meningitis; Prednisolone; Prednisolone - therapeutic use; Ranidae - parasitology; Spinal Puncture; Treatment Outcome; Vitaceae; Wine
• ISSN: 0918-2918; 1349-7235; 1349-7235
• DOI: 10.2169/internalmedicine.50.4193

Angiostrongylus cantonensis also known as the rat lungworm, is prevalent in the Pacific Islands and southeast Asia and is the most common cause of eosinophilic meningitis in humans. Although frogs and toads are known as paratenic hosts of A. cantonensis, they are rarely reported as the infectious source of human angiostrongyliasis. We report a case of encephalitis caused by Angiostrongylus cantonensis after eating raw frogs mixed with wine as a health supplement. Prednisolone at a dose of 1 mg/kg/day was prescribed for 14 days successfully. We advise that travelers and residents of endemic areas should avoid eating raw frogs and a public caution on the danger of eating raw wild animal products or the whole animal is recommended to alleviate such accidental infection.