What is the definitive host for the parasite Angiostrongylus cantonensis?
Answer
Rats
The parasite *Angiostrongylus cantonensis*, commonly known as the rat lungworm, utilizes rats as its definitive host. Within the definitive host, the adult worms establish themselves and reside specifically in the pulmonary arteries of the rat. This residency allows the parasite life cycle to continue when larvae are subsequently passed through the rat's feces, which then contaminates the environment and allows ingestion by intermediate hosts like snails and slugs.
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