Angiostrongylus cantonensis is a zoonotic parasitic helminth that normally resides in the pulmonary arteries and the right ventricle of rats (Rattus sp.), the definitive host, where it causes little disease. Humans, dogs, opossums, and various zoo animals are “accidental” hosts. Here we report verminous meningoencephalomyelitis caused by A. cantonensis in a 9-mo-old male red kangaroo (Macropus rufus). The kangaroo was first presented lethargic, recumbent, and hypothermic, with severe muscle wasting. Within 3 wk, he progressed to non-ambulatory paraparesis and died. Gross examination revealed multifocal areas of dark-brown discoloration, malacia, and cavitation in the brain and the spinal cord. Histologically, there were several sections of nematodes surrounded by extensive areas of rarefaction, hemorrhage, spongiosis, neuronal necrosis, and gliosis. Based on size, morphology, and organ location, the nematodes were identified as subadult males and females. Interestingly, an eosinophilic response was largely absent, and the inflammatory response was minimal. A. cantonensis infection had not been reported previously in a red kangaroo in Louisiana or Mississippi, to our knowledge. Our case reaffirms the widespread presence of the helminth in the southeastern United States and indicates that A. cantonensis should be considered as a differential in macropods with neurologic clinical signs in regions where A. cantonensis is now endemic.

广州管圆线虫是一种人畜共患寄生虫，通常寄生在最终宿主大鼠（ Rattus sp.）的肺动脉和右心室，几乎不会引起疾病。人类、狗、负鼠和各种动物园动物都是“意外”宿主。在这里，我们报告了由A. cantonensis在 9 个月大的雄性红袋鼠 ( Macropus rufus ) 中引起的寄生虫性脑膜脑脊髓炎。）。袋鼠最初表现为昏昏欲睡、仰卧和体温过低，并伴有严重的肌肉萎缩。3 周内，他发展为非行走性截瘫并死亡。大体检查显示大脑和脊髓多灶性深褐色变色、软化和空洞。组织学上，有几个线虫部分被大面积的稀疏、出血、海绵组织、神经元坏死和神经胶质增生所包围。根据大小、形态和器官位置，线虫被确定为亚成体雄性和雌性。有趣的是，嗜酸性粒细胞反应基本不存在，炎症反应最小。广州金针菇据我们所知，路易斯安那州或密西西比州的一只红袋鼠之前没有报告过感染。我们的案例再次证实了该蠕虫在美国东南部的广泛存在，并表明在目前广州 A. cantonensis流行的地区，应将A. cantonensis视为具有神经系统临床症状的大型足类动物的差异。