Revisiting a Neglected Zoonosis: Molecular Identification of Angiostrongylus cantonensis in Southern Indian Rodents

Introduction Angiostrongylus cantonensis is a zoonotic metastrongyloid nematode that causes eosinophilic meningitis and ocular angiostrongyliasis in humans and other accidental hosts. In India, reported human cases are sporadic, with several associated with monitor lizard consumption, while systematic studies remain limited. Methods We examined 60 opportunistically obtained rodent carcasses from six localities along the Pondicherry‐Tamil Nadu border. Molecular identification and phylogenetic analysis were performed on adult nematodes recovered from the rats. Results A. cantonensis was detected in three bandicoot rats, two Bandicota bengalensis and one B. indica . Parasite identity was confirmed by sequence analysis of the complete cytochrome c oxidase subunit I ( cox1 ) gene, while rodent identity was confirmed using a partial cytochrome b ( cytb ) sequence. All eight recovered worms shared an identical cox1 sequence, representing the novel haplotype IND1. TN1 within Clade III. Conclusion This study provides the first molecular confirmation of A. cantonensis in definitive hosts from India.