Angiostrongyliasis - Angiostrongylus costaricensis Life Cycle

1) Eggs hatch in the ileum, and first-stage larvae are passed in rodent feces.

2) First stage larvae shed from definitive host are ingested by gastropod intermediate host. 

3) Larvae reach the infective (third) stage after two molts in the intermediate host

4) Third-stage larvae are ingested by definitive host.

5) Accidental ingestion of gastropod or larvae (e.g. on contaminated produce)

6) Larvae migrate to intestinal wall, and maturation may occur. Presence of worms and eggs in tissues causes an inflammatory reaction; eggs do not appear to be shed in human stool.



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