| eosinophilic meningitis beyond the pacific basin: the global dispersal of a peridomestic zoonosis caused by angiostrongylus cantonensis, the nematode lungworm of rats. | the principal etiologic agent of human eosinophilic meningitis, angiostrongylus cantonensis, was first detected in rats in canton, china in 1933. the first human case was detected on taiwan in 1944. epidemic outbreaks were noted on ponape (e. caroline is.) from 1944 to 1948. the disease may present as transient meningitis or a more severe disease involving the brain, spinal cord and nerve roots, with a characteristic eosinophilia of the peripheral blood and csf. since 1961 it has been known that ... | 1992 | 1738873 |