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There has been an uptic of a rare brain parasite infecting tourist on Maui. Its called rat lung worm disease. Even though it is the consumption of molusks or prawns that are thought to be the way the parasite enters a human , it could also be unwashed produce that was slimed by a slug or snail. CNN reports that there are 9 confirmed cases with 6 from Maui and 3 from Big Island.
Bill
http://www.malamaopuna.org/ratlung/needtoknow.php
Bill
http://www.malamaopuna.org/ratlung/needtoknow.php
The parasite can be transferred to slugs, and snails in the 3rd larval stage; it has also been found in flatworms. Humans pick up the parasite by ingesting slugs/slug slime contaminated fruits /vegetables/water or raw or undercooked slugs, snails, mollusks, prawns and monitor lizards. Humans are a dead end host, the parasite will not develop to sexual maturity and may live for up to a year in the human body but will eventually die. While the parasite has been in Hawaii a long time, cases of illness have risen with the introduction and increase in the population of an invasive semi-slug (Parmarion martensi), which is native to SE Asia.
Slugs may leave parasites in their slime trails including on countertops, cooking /eating implements and even toothbrushes. A very small piece of a slug can contain as many as a thousand parasites. Developing slugs (neonates) carry the parasite as well; they are very small, approx. 2mm in length, and can be difficult to see.