Armillifer armillatus is a species of tongue worm in the subclass Pentastomida[1] occurring in tropical Africa.[2] Its typical definitive hosts are pythons, such as the African rock python, while rodents are presumed to act as intermediate hosts. Humans may become accidentally infected by the eggs particularly if consuming (or otherwise contacting) infected snakes. Ingested eggs develop into nymphs that invade different visceral organs causing a disease called porocephalosis. Humans have been infected by eating undercooked snake meat or through direct contact. Most human infections are asymptomatic, some are debilitating, or rarely even lethal.[3][4] Diagnoses of infection has usually been done by accident, and almost all patients did not require treatment. [5]
| Armillifer armillatus | |
|---|---|
| |
| A 4 cm specimen from the respiratory tract of Python sebae | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Ichthyostraca |
| Order: | Porocephalida |
| Family: | Porocephalidae |
| Genus: | Armillifer |
| Species: | A. armillatus
|
| Binomial name | |
| Armillifer armillatus (Wyman, 1848)
| |
| Synonyms | |
|
List
| |
Most of the pythons sold for human consumption at the rural bushmeat markets in the Democratic Republic of Congo host Armillifer armillatus.[6]
References
edit- ^ Chen SH, Liu Q, Zhang YN, et al. (2010). "Multi-host model-based identification of Armillifer agkistrodontis (Pentastomida), a new zoonotic parasite from China". PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases. 4 (4): e647. doi:10.1371/journal.pntd.0000647. PMC 2850311. PMID 20386597.
- ^ Christoffersen ML, De Assis JE (2013). "A systematic monograph of the Recent Pentastomida, with a compilation of their host". Zoologische Mededelingen. 87: 1–206. Archived from the original on 8 November 2014. Retrieved 17 January 2018.
- ^ Mapp EM, Pollack HM, Goldman LH (May 1976). "Roentgen diagnosis of Armillifer armillatus infestation (porocephalosis) in man". Journal of the National Medical Association. 68 (3): 198–200, 191. PMC 2609651. PMID 933188.
- ^ Tappe D, Büttner DW (2009). "Diagnosis of Human Visceral Pentastomiasis". PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases. 3 (2): 1–7. doi:10.1371/journal.pntd.0000320. PMC 2643528. PMID 19238218.
- ^ Vanhecke, C.; Le-Gall, P.; Le Breton, M.; Malvy, D. (2016). "Human pentastomiasis in Sub-Saharan Africa". Médecine et Maladies Infectieuses. 46 (6). Elsevier BV: 269–275. doi:10.1016/j.medmal.2016.02.006. ISSN 0399-077X. PMID 27004769.
- ^ Hardi R, Babocsay G, Tappe D, Sulyok M, Bodó I, Rózsa L (2017). "Armillifer-infected snakes sold at Congolese bushmeat markets represent an emerging zoonotic threat" (PDF). EcoHealth. 14 (4): 743–749. doi:10.1007/s10393-017-1274-5. PMC 7088293. PMID 29030787.
 | This Maxillopoda-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |