Presence of Angiostrongylus cantonensis in Haiti

In the West Indies Angiostrongylus cantonensis was found first in Cuba in 1973, then in Puerto Rico (1986), in the Dominican Republic (1992) and recently in Jamaica (2002). Concurrently, the presence of the parasite was detected in the Bahamas and in New Orleans (LA, USA) in 1990. To assess the occurrence of A. cantonensis in Haiti, we investigated a number of rats in Port-au-Prince in 2002. Preliminary results among 23 captured and examined rats show that 75% (three of four) Rattus norvegicus and 21% (four of 19) R. rattus harboured A. cantonensis in their cardiopulmonary systems. Haiti is, for the first time, recognized as a new enzootic area for A. cantonensis in the Caribbean. This emerging zoonosis should be considered as a new public health hazard in Haiti.