Parmarion martensi
(Ariophantidae)
|
|
Parmarion martensi
|
|
| HEAR home > species info > invertebrates > Parmarion martensi (Ariophantidae) |
| Taxonomy & nomenclature | Impacts | Host/vector of these species | Dispersal and pathways |
| Management plans | Human health issues | Distribution | Full-text articles |
|
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.
|
Parasites cause intense pain for Big Island victims
Rat lungworm disease has hospitalized Big Island residents (Honolulu Star Bulletin, 1/5/2009).
Best on-farm food safety practices: Documenting trace-back and trace-forward of harvested produce
This CTAHR publication details steps to use for trace-back and trace-forward tracking of harvested produce. These procedures can be important for isolating sources of outbreaks of produce-related human disease (as well as--presumably--for other reasons).
Distribution of Parmarion cf. martensi (Pulmonata: Helicarionidae), a new semi-slug pest on Hawaii Island, and its potential as a vector for human Angiostrongyliasis
The disease transmission potential of Parmarion cf. martensi may be higher than that for other slugs and snails in Hawaii because of the high prevalence of infection, worm burdens, and its greater association with human habitations (2007).
Snails, slugs, and semi-slugs: A parasitic disease in paradise
An image of Angiostrongylus cantonensis larva obtained from a Parmarion martensi semi-slug collected in Hawaii, and information about parasite evaluation methods are provided by the Center for Disease Control.
Best on-farm food safety practices: Documenting trace-back and trace-forward of harvested produce
This CTAHR publication details steps to use for trace-back and trace-forward tracking of harvested produce. These procedures can be important for isolating sources of outbreaks of produce-related human disease (as well as--presumably--for other reasons).
Avoid contracting Angiostrongyliasis (rat lungworm infection): Wash fresh fruits and vegetables before eating!
Angiostrongyliasis overview and prevention measures are provided by the University of Hawaii College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources.
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.
DOH: Wash produce thoroughly to prevent rat lung worm
Angiostrongylus, or rat lung worm, which has sickened at least six people on Hawaii Island, can be prevented by washing produce thoroughly (Hawaii 247, 1/26/2009).
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.
Watch out Hawaii: Veggies may harbor rare parasite
Rat lungworm disease victims in Hilo, Hawaii, may have contracted the parasite by consuming raw vegetables (Scientific American, 1/8/2008).
Distribution of Parmarion cf. martensi (Pulmonata: Helicarionidae), a new semi-slug pest on Hawaii Island, and its potential as a vector
for human angiostrongyliasis
The semi-slug Parmarion cf. martensi Simroth, 1893, was first discovered on Oahu, Hawaii, in 1996 and then on the island of Hawaii in 2004. This species, which is probably native to Southeast Asia, is abundant in eastern Hawaii Island, reportedly displacing the Cuban slug, Veronicella cubensis (Pfeiffer, 1840), in some areas. A survey in July-August 2005 found P. cf. martensi primarily in the lower Puna area of Hawaii Island, with an isolated population in Kailua-Kona (western Hawaii Island). It is now established in commercial papaya plantations, and survey participants reported it as a pest of lettuce and papaya in home gardens. Survey respondents considered P. cf. martensi a pest also because of its tendency to climb on structures where it deposits its feces and because of its potential to transmit disease. Individuals of this species were found to carry large numbers of infective third-stage larvae of the nematode Angiostrongylus cantonensis (Chen, 1935), the causative agent of human angiostrongyliasis and the most common cause of human eosinophilic meningoencephalitis. Using a newly developed polymerase chain reaction test, 77.5% of P. cf. martensi collected at survey sites were found infected with A. cantonensis, compared with 24.3% of V. cubensis sampled from the same areas. The transmission potential of this species may be higher than that for other slugs and snails in Hawaii because of the high prevalence of infection, worm burdens, and its greater association with human habitations, increasing the possibility of human-mollusk interactions.
Distribution of Parmarion cf. martensi (Pulmonata: Helicarionidae), a new semi-slug pest on Hawaii Island, and its potential as a vector for human Angiostrongyliasis
The disease transmission potential of Parmarion cf. martensi may be higher than that for other slugs and snails in Hawaii because of the high prevalence of infection, worm burdens, and its greater association with human habitations (2007).
Distribution of Parmarion cf. martensi (Pulmonata: Helicarionidae), a new semi-slug pest on Hawaii Island, and its potential as a vector
for human angiostrongyliasis
The semi-slug Parmarion cf. martensi Simroth, 1893, was first discovered on Oahu, Hawaii, in 1996 and then on the island of Hawaii in 2004. This species, which is probably native to Southeast Asia, is abundant in eastern Hawaii Island, reportedly displacing the Cuban slug, Veronicella cubensis (Pfeiffer, 1840), in some areas. A survey in July-August 2005 found P. cf. martensi primarily in the lower Puna area of Hawaii Island, with an isolated population in Kailua-Kona (western Hawaii Island). It is now established in commercial papaya plantations, and survey participants reported it as a pest of lettuce and papaya in home gardens. Survey respondents considered P. cf. martensi a pest also because of its tendency to climb on structures where it deposits its feces and because of its potential to transmit disease. Individuals of this species were found to carry large numbers of infective third-stage larvae of the nematode Angiostrongylus cantonensis (Chen, 1935), the causative agent of human angiostrongyliasis and the most common cause of human eosinophilic meningoencephalitis. Using a newly developed polymerase chain reaction test, 77.5% of P. cf. martensi collected at survey sites were found infected with A. cantonensis, compared with 24.3% of V. cubensis sampled from the same areas. The transmission potential of this species may be higher than that for other slugs and snails in Hawaii because of the high prevalence of infection, worm burdens, and its greater association with human habitations, increasing the possibility of human-mollusk interactions.
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.
|
|
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. |
|