In August 2019, the rat lung worm, A. cantonensis, was found in two neurologically compromised hedgehogs rescued from two different localities in Majorca. Angiostrongyliasis is considered an emerging zoonosis and is the main etiological agent of eosinophilic meningitis in humans. Several species of rats are the disease reservoir (definitive hosts) and both terrestrial and freshwater gastropods, such as snails, act as intermediate hosts. Most human infections occur by eating improperly cooked snails or unwashed produce. This seminar will describe the first reported case of this emerging zoonosis in temperate Europe and will address the truth behind some of the sensationalised media releases this week about this parasitic worm discovery. Considering that snails are an important part of the Majorcan cuisine and this island has strong transport connections with the rest of Europe, her research findings create a challenging situation with many unanswered scientific questions.
Dr. Claudia Paredes-Esquivel obtained a bachelor degree in Biological Sciences at the University of San Marcos (UNMSM) in Lima, Peru in 1996. In Peru, she worked in industry (1997-2000), for the Ministry of Health (2000-2002) and from 2002 to 2004 as an assistant lecturer at the Faculty of Biological Sciences at the National University of San Marcos. In 2004, she joined the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine (LSTM) as a PhD fellow under the supervision of Professor Harold Townson. She currently works as a lecturer at the University of the Balearic Islands (UIB) in Spain. She is interested in using molecular-based techniques to understand the taxonomy, phylogenetic relationships and evolution of parasites and their vectors so to improve existing control strategies.
This seminar will be recorded and livestreamed
Full livestream link: http://bit.ly/LSTM-Sem19-CPE