Achatina fulica
(Achatinidae)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Achatina fulica
|
|
| HEAR home > species info > invertebrates > Achatina fulica (Achatinidae) |
| Species description or overview | Taxonomy & nomenclature | Impacts | Host/vector of these species | Control methods | Human health issues |
| Images | Distribution | Books | Full-text articles | Experts | Other resources |
|
A message from Dr. David Duffy, Pacific Cooperative Studies Unit (PCSU), University of Hawaii (posted 05 November 2012): Because of a lack of funds, HEAR (www.hear.org) may close as soon as December 15, although there may be enough funds to extend it until February 15. This will mean several things. The web site will be placed on a new server although it is not clear who will pay for the server or for transitioning the site. HEAR data will not be updated. The Pacific Ecosystems at Risk (PIER) (http://www.hear.org/pier/abtproj.htm) site will also become frozen, as will numerous books, reports and papers (http://www.hear.org/). As software evolves we will likely lose the ability to access the data. The various list servers will need new owners, otherwise moderated lists will cease to function altogether, while other lists will not be able to add or delete members. The photo collection (http://www.hear.org/starr/images/?o=plants) will remain accessible, but only through a third party site that will charge for access. I should point out that we have already lost the original homes of both the Pacific Basin Information Node (PBIN) and Pacific Ecosystems at Risk (PIER) although they have found temporary refuges. Together with HEAR, they represent the corporate memory both here in Hawaii and across the Pacific of efforts to sustain our natural ecosystems and agriculture against problems caused by species alien to the islands. HEAR also serves as the glue that holds the community together, providing information and facilitating communication. I just hope hindsight is kind to this decision.
|
Achatina fulica description and ecology from GISD (ISSG)
A species description and information about the ecology of Achatina fulica as an invasive species is provided from the Global Invasive Species Database (GISD). GISD was created and is maintained by IUCN's Invasive Species Specialist Group (ISSG).
Giant African snails can carry Angiostrongylus cantonensis parasite
The Center for Disease Control provides information about the Giant African snails carrying the parasite Angiostrongylus cantonensis.
Giant African snail species profile (USDA)
Extensive links for the giant African snail (Achatina fulica), video, and citation database, are provided by the National Invasive Species Information Center.
Achatina fulica impact information from GISD (ISSG)
Impact information regarding Achatina fulica as an invasive species is provided from the Global Invasive Species Database (GISD). GISD was created and is maintained by IUCN's Invasive Species Specialist Group (ISSG).
Best on-farm food safety practices: Reducing risks associated with rat lungworm infection and human eosinophilic meningitis
Recent cases of eosinophilic meningitis have drawn attention to a foodborne parasitic infection that occurs in Hawaii, the Pacific Islands, southern and eastern Asia, and elsewhere. In late 2008, the Hawaii Department of Health reported that four people on the island of Hawaii were diagnosed with eosinophilic meningitis, secondary to rat lungworm infection. They may have been infected after eating fresh produce grown in the region that was contaminated with snails or slugs infected with the parasite Angiostrongylus cantonensis. Hawaii also experienced a cluster of five infections by this pathogen from November 2004 to January 2005 (Hochberg et al. 2007). According to the Hawaii Department of Health, reports of severe infections are uncommon. However, anecdotal evidence from a group of workshop attendees in the Puna district on Hawaii in January 2009 put the incidence rate much higher. Although reporting appears to lag behind actual disease incidence rate, the threat to residents and visitors is low. Due to the possible severity of the symptoms, it is important to practice preventive measures in your home garden or commercial farm, as well as in your kitchen.
Changing epidemiology of Angiostrongyliasis cantonensis in Okinawa prefecture, Japan
Okinawa Prefecture experienced an outbreak of angiostrongyliasis in January of2000 (I). The origin ofthe infection's outbreak could not be identified. We examined the past records of Angiostrongylus eantonensis (Ae) infection outbreaks and investigated the current distribution of Ae's intermediate and paratenic hosts with infective third-stage larvae in Okinawa. In order to find the infective larvae of Ae in the giant African snail, Achatina fulica, the pallial organ (lung) of the snail was compressed between two glass plates and examined under a microscope (2) (Figs. lA, IB). In other host animals, the whole body was digested in artificial gastric juice (l% pepsin/l% Hel), and the digested material was allowed to sediment; the sediment thus formed was then examined microscopically. In particular, albino rats were given larvae from Platydemus manokwari and Parmarion martensi orally with the specimen, and identification was made based on the morphology of the adult Ae recovered at 59 days post-inoculation.
Giant African snail species profile (USDA)
Extensive links for the giant African snail (Achatina fulica), video, and citation database, are provided by the National Invasive Species Information Center.
Achatina fulica worldwide distribution from GISD (ISSG)
Worldwide distribution information about Achatina fulica is provided from the Global Invasive Species Database (GISD). GISD was created and is maintained by IUCN's Invasive Species Specialist Group (ISSG).
Invasive species in the Pacific: A technical review and draft regional strategy
South Pacific Regional Environmental Programme (SPREP). Sherley, Greg (ed.) . 2000. Invasive species in the Pacific: A technical review and draft regional strategy. Apia, Samoa: South Pacific Regional Environment Programme. ISBN: 982-04-0214-X.
Turning the tide: The eradication of invasive species (proceedings of the International Conference on Eradication of Island Invasives)
Veitch, C.R. and M.N. Clout (eds.) . 2002. Turning the tide: The eradication of invasive species (proceedings of the International Conference on Eradication of Island Invasives). IUCN SSC Invasive Species Specialist Group. IUCN, Gland, Switzerland and Cambridge, UK. vii + 414pp. ISBN: 2-8317-0682-3.
Changing epidemiology of Angiostrongyliasis cantonensis in Okinawa prefecture, Japan
Okinawa Prefecture experienced an outbreak of angiostrongyliasis in January of2000 (I). The origin ofthe infection's outbreak could not be identified. We examined the past records of Angiostrongylus eantonensis (Ae) infection outbreaks and investigated the current distribution of Ae's intermediate and paratenic hosts with infective third-stage larvae in Okinawa. In order to find the infective larvae of Ae in the giant African snail, Achatina fulica, the pallial organ (lung) of the snail was compressed between two glass plates and examined under a microscope (2) (Figs. lA, IB). In other host animals, the whole body was digested in artificial gastric juice (l% pepsin/l% Hel), and the digested material was allowed to sediment; the sediment thus formed was then examined microscopically. In particular, albino rats were given larvae from Platydemus manokwari and Parmarion martensi orally with the specimen, and identification was made based on the morphology of the adult Ae recovered at 59 days post-inoculation.
USDA importation info regarding snails and slugs
AntWeb
Achatina fulica references from GISD (ISSG)
References regarding Achatina fulica as an invasive species is provided from the Global Invasive Species Database (GISD). GISD was created and is maintained by IUCN's Invasive Species Specialist Group (ISSG).
|
|
Some documents posted on the HEAR website are in Adobe Acrobat PDF format. If your computer is not already set up to read these files, you can download the FREE Adobe Acrobat reader. You can set up most web browsers to automatically invoke this reader (as a "helper application" or "add-in") upon encountering documents of this type (refer to your browser's documentation for how to do this). |
|
| The Hawaiian Ecosystems at Risk project (HEAR) is currently funded by grants from the Hau'oli Mau Loa Foundation and the U.S. Forest Service with support from PCSU (UH Manoa). Historically, HEAR has also received funding and/or support from the Pacific Basin Information Node (PBIN) of the National Biological Information Infrastructure (NBII), PIERC (USGS), the USFWS, HCSU (UH Hilo), and HALE (NPS). |
| The content of this page is based on information last generated on 05 November 2012 by PT. The template for this page was created on 15 March 2004 by EMS, and was last updated on 02 July 2012 by PT. |
|