"The most common species is Armillifer armillatus, and is known only from Tropical Africa. The adults live in the lungs of large snakes such as pythons and vipers of the genus Bitis. The nymphs develop in various animals including man and nymphal pentastomosis by A. armillatus has been reported frequently in man. These nymphs are generally found encysted in a thin transparent cystic membrane. In some circumstances these nymphs may escape from their envelope and become free in the host. In man the nymphs are generally located in the peritoneal cavity or the thorax. Most of them are encysted beneath the capsule of the liver or embedded in the superficial layers of this organ. They are also frequently found in the omentum, the mesenteries, the intestinal walls, and in other abdominal organs. The presence of these nymphs in the peritoneal cavity is generally well tolerated and pathological complications are very rare. Nymphal pentastomosis in man by Armillifer armillatus is generally discovered during surgical intervention or at necropsies. As long as the nymphs are alive, they are not visible by X-rays. After death they may calcify and become visible by X-rays. Their ring or horseshoe form (10-14 mm in diameter) and their location in the abdominal or thoracic cavity are characteristic." (A. Fain, 1975.)
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]
Most of the pythons sold for human consumption at the rural bushmeat markets in the Democratic Republic of Congo host Armillifer armillatus.[6]
Armillifer armillatus is a species of tongue worm in the subclass Pentastomida occurring in tropical Africa. 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. Diagnoses of infection has usually been done by accident, and almost all patients did not require treatment.
Most of the pythons sold for human consumption at the rural bushmeat markets in the Democratic Republic of Congo host Armillifer armillatus.
