Angiostrongylus cantonensis (A. cantonensis) has a complex life history and a variety of hosts, and is highly infectious and pathogenic, which poses a serious health threat. The invasion of exotic molluscs has become an important way for A. cantonensis to spread. More and more studies have been conducted on the infection of A. cantonensis by invasive mollusks, and the detection technology of A. cantonensis in the host has been improved gradually. However, the literatures on the infection of A. cantonensis with invasive mollusks are still scattered, there is still a lack of systematic analysis on the susceptibility characteristics and detection techniques of invasive mollusks infected with A. cantonensis. Therefore, the research on invasive mollusks infected by A. cantonensis in the last 20 years was reviewed, and the research progress on infection types, susceptibility, physiological response, genetic profile, host response and detection methods of A. cantonensis infection in invasive mollusks was systematically analyzed. At least 15 species of globally invasive mollusks that are susceptible to A. cantonensis have been reported so far. The larvae (L1-L3) could be parasitized by Pomacea canaliculata, Pomacea maculata/insularum, Achatina fulica, Cipangopaludina chinensis, and Corbicula fluminea. Nitrogen metabolism and oxidative metabolism of infected mollusks were enhanced after infection. The susceptibility of invasive mollusks to A. cantonensis was related to host species, developmental period, breeding environment, infection dose and infection duration. The morphological and molecular methods was often used to detect A. cantonensis. The accuracy of molecular detection method is higher than that of the morphological method. Angiostrongylus cantonensis can spread globally by hitchhiking on invasive mollusks. Simultaneously elucidated the dispersal mechanism of invasive mollusks and the parasitic behaviors of A. cantonensis can provide a useful reference for the prevention, control and management of A. cantonensis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]