Internet-Sold Snail Pomacea canaliculata and Achatina fulica Might Transmit Angiostrongylus cantonensis in Mainland China
Internet-Sold Snail Pomacea canaliculata and Achatina fulica Might Transmit Angiostrongylus cantonensis in Mainland China
Yu Liang Cao1, Yue Guo2,3*, Hui Zhang2 and Chun Sheng Wang2
ABSTRACT
In China, snails Pomacea canaliculata and its new breed the gold snail, Achatina fulica and its new breeds the white jade snail, have been sold on the Internet in recent years. We concluded that 24,853 sales of P. canaliculata and A. fulica had been made through the Internet selling platform before 2019. Further surveys indicated that 51% sellers were located in endemic areas of Angiostrongylus cantonensis. However, no A. cantonensis-positive snails were found among Internet-sold snails. Laboratory animal infection experiments proved that all 4 breeds of snails could transmit A. cantonensis. Internet sales of the 4 snails are of bio-safty temporarily but still present a high risk to spread angiostrongyliasis in China; moreover. Internet sales of P. canaliculata and A. fulica should be brought to the attention of concerned administrations in China.
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