Unexpected Infection with<i>Armillifer</i>Parasites

Potters, Idzi; Desaive, C; Broucke, Steven Van Den; Esbroeck, Marjan Van; Lynen, Lutgarde

doi:10.3201/eid2312.171189

Cited by 7 publications

(11 citation statements)

References 8 publications

(12 reference statements)

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“…Two additional studies were found by hand-screening of the included articles’ references. Finally, 26 met the study criteria [3,4,8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20,21,22,23,24,25,26,27,28,29,30,31]. The review process is graphically presented in Figure 1.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Armillifer Infections in Humans: A Systematic Review

Ιωάννου

Vamvoukaki

2019

TropicalMed

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Armillifer is a genus of obligate parasites belonging to the Pentastomida subclass that was first described as a cause of human disease in 1847. Human infection by Armillifer is rare and not widely known. These parasites are transmitted to humans by handling or eating undercooked meat from infected snakes, which are the definitive hosts, or oral uptake of environmental ova. The aim of this systematic review was to record all available evidence regarding infections by Armillifer in humans. A systematic review of PubMed (through 21 December 2018) for studies providing epidemiological, clinical, microbiological, as well as treatment data and outcomes of Armillifer infections was conducted. A total of 26 studies, containing data of 40 patients, were eventually included in the analysis. The most common sites of infection were the peritoneal cavity, the liver, the lower respiratory and the abdominal tract. The commonest infecting species was A. armillatus and most patients were asymptomatic; however, when symptoms occurred, the commonest was abdominal pain, even though unusual presentations occurred, such as hepatic encephalopathy or neurologic symptoms. Most cases were diagnosed at surgery or by imaging, and most patients were not treated. Mortality was low, but the majority of the cases with ocular infection lead to permanent loss of vision.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Armillifer Infections in Humans: A Systematic Review

Ιωάννου

Vamvoukaki

2019

TropicalMed

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“…Because infection with Armillifer parasites is usually asymptomatic, the incidence of this pathology is probably underestimated. The diagnosis can be made by detection of numerous larvae during surgery or by the identification of multiple comma-shaped calcified lesions corresponding to calcified dead larvae (nymphs are viable for approximately two years in the human body [4]) mainly localized in the peritoneal cavity or liver on imaging [2]. The calcifications can be demonstrated better on abdominal ultrasound and computed tomography.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Armillifer, and especially Armillifer armillatus, is a genus of parasites belonging to the Pentastomida subclass, endemic in West and Central Africa [1]. The Pentastomida are a group of vermiform endoparasites [2]. Porocephalosis is the name given to human infection by Armillifer, which is rare, especially in Europe and North America.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A French case of porocephalosis diagnosed by radiologists

Lersy

Willaume

2020

J Infect Dev Ctries

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Porocephalosis is the name given to human infection by Armillifer, which is rare, especially in European and North American populations. Among the few cases reported to date, most of them were described in the African community. Humans can become infected, for example, consuming undercooked meat from infected snakes. Herein we report the case of a 31-year-old male, originally from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, who was living in France for many years and presented with lower back pain and mild abdominal pain. Imaging showed multiple comma-shaped calcifications disseminated in the liver and the peritoneal cavity, without any additional feature. The patient reported regular consumption of snake meat during his travels in Africa, and thus the diagnosis of porocephalosis could be made. Doctors treating patients from endemic areas or traveling in endemic areas, particularly in Africa, should become familiar with this infection and consider it in the case of multiple calcifications on imaging. More cases of porocephalosis are likely to be seen in the future because of the increase in international travel.

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“…Parasite load is usually low and subjects are generally asymptomatic with no specific treatment required. Encapsulated larvae typically die within 2 years and become calcified: pentastomiasis is most often identified when these lesions are incidentally encountered at laparotomy or on radiological examination, and may be detected many years after the initial infection 2 4…”

Section: Descriptionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Incidental radiological finding of pentastomiasis

Tang,

El Menabawey,

Ewing

2023

BMJ Case Rep

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Unexpected Infection withArmilliferParasites

Cited by 7 publications

References 8 publications

Armillifer Infections in Humans: A Systematic Review

Armillifer Infections in Humans: A Systematic Review

A French case of porocephalosis diagnosed by radiologists

Incidental radiological finding of pentastomiasis

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