First record of Angiostrongylus cantonensis infection in Diplothrix legata (Rodentia: Muridae) in Tokunoshima Island, Japan

Researchers have documented the first occurrence of Angiostrongylus cantonensis infection in the endangered Ryukyu long-furred rat (Diplothrix legata) on Tokunoshima Island, Japan. This discovery extends the known range of the zoonotic parasite, which typically infects invasive rats and relies on mollusks as intermediate hosts. The finding was made during a pathological examination of a deceased wild D. legata individual, revealing co-infections with two additional non-native parasites: Trichosomoides crassicauda and Hydatigera taeniaeformis. Notably, A. cantonensis has now been confirmed in wild populations of D. legata across all three islands where the species is endemic—Tokunoshima, Amami-Oshima, and Okinawa—highlighting a potential conservation concern due to its impact on this critically endangered rodent.

Sakashita, K., Tokiwa, T., Suzuki, R., I, T., Suzuki, M., Itoi, A., Yamamoto, M., & Yoshimura, H. (2025). First record of Angiostrongylus cantonensis infection in Diplothrix legata (Rodentia: Muridae) in Tokunoshima Island, Japan. International Journal for Parasitology: Parasites and Wildlife, 26, 101046. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijppaw.2025.101046