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Objective: To review the Veterans Affairs (VA) medical surveillance program for Veterans with potential hexavalent chromium (CrVI) exposure that occurred during 2003.Methods: Retrospective review of medical records of the 124 Veterans that participated in standardized, in-person clinical evaluations for possible CrVI exposure during the incident in question. The evaluations were reviewed to define population level effects. In addition, a mortality analysis was conducted for the 808 unique personal identifiers available to Veterans Health Administration.Results: Mean reported number of days exposed was 21 (median 10). A history of respiratory (n = 78) and skin (n = 38) symptoms were reported during the period of exposure. No abnormalities that were specific to chromium exposure (e.g., nasal septum perforation) were found. Eight deaths occurred between 2005 and 2012.Conclusions: The lack of severe nasal abnormalities in the VA evaluations supports a time-limited peak exposure. However, the overall low participation rate (15%) severely compromises any ability to generalize to the entire potentially exposed population. Regardless, since the actual level of exposure to CrVI will never be known with certainty, the VA will continue to monitor these Veterans with periodic evaluations to identify and manage any pathologic findings that might be associated with past CrVI exposure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Angiostrongylus eosinophilic meningitis is caused by infection with larvae of the rat lungworm, Angiostrongylus cantonensis. We report the case of an adult who ingested a raw, giant African snail (Achatina fulica) on the island of O'ahu in Hawai'i and developed an eosinophilic meningoencephalitis with severe headache, confusion, sixth cranial nerve palsy, ataxia, limb weakness, and paresthesia. He was treated with lumbar punctures to relieve pressure, high dose corticosteroids, and 14 days of albendazole. He had a prolonged convalescence, requiring 3 months of prednisone, and still had evidence of motor nerve weakness 4 months after exposure. A field investigation at the site of exposure yielded 5 of 9 Achatina fulica snails with evidence of A. cantonensis DNA by PCR. Cerebrospinal fluid samples from the patient were negative acutely but positive on day 15 of symptoms, using an investigational, real-time PCR assay. We discuss clinical management of this case in light of the current medical literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]