NEURAL ANGIOSTRONGYLOSIS IN 3 CAPTIVE RUFOUS BETTONGS (AEPYPRYMNUS-RUFESCENS)

Neurological disease attributed to migration of the rat lungworm (Angi ostrongylus cantonensis), is described in three captive rufous bettong s (Aepyprymnus rufescens), Clinical signs, including ascending paralys is and multifocal neurological deficits, were similar to those seen in other species, Histologically, the severity of meningoencephalomyelit is ranged from mild to moderate. In one animal cerebrospinal fluid con tained a high percentage of eosinophils but peripheral blood cell coun ts were within normal limits. Treatment with dexamethasone, diazepam a nd vitamin E was unsuccessful. The prognosis for bettongs with this di sease is poor, The susceptibility of this species to this disease has implications for enclosure design.