Angiostrongylus cantonensis infection in the introduced horntail snail (Tanychlamys indica) from northern Okinawa Island, Japan.

From September 2023 to September 2024, the potential intermediate hosts of Angiostrongylus cantonensis (Nematoda: Angiostrongylidae) were investigated on northern Okinawa Island, Japan, where infection of endangered rodent species is a conservation concern. Third-stage larvae of A. cantonensis were detected in Tanychlamys indica (Stylommatophora: Ariophantidae), a globally invasive terrestrial snail species recently established on Okinawa Island. Notably, infected T. indica were primarily collected from forest edges, indicating a potential ecological interface between this invasive host and native forest ecosystems. These findings highlight the necessity to monitor the spread of T. indica from both the conservation and public health perspectives.