Studies on susceptibility of Pila ampullacea, to the infection with the rat lungworm, Angiostrongylus cantonensis.

Experimental infections of Pila ampullacea with first stage larvae of Angiostrongylus cantonensis were carried out to determine susceptibility of this molluscan host in relation to dose level and snail host size. Snails were divided into 3 size groups and exposed to A. cantonensis first stage larval suspensions of varying concentrations. The results showed that overall, about 20% of larvae ingested by the snails developed into infective third stage larvae, but the percentage was inversely related to both the number of larvae to which snails were exposed and snail weight. The infective worms were concentrated in the foot muscle and mantle of the molluscan host.