Pentastomes (Pentastomida, Armillifer armillatus Wyman, 1848) in snakes from Zambia.
Twenty-three snakes, belonging to eight different species, were collected from rural areas of Zambia and inspected for the presence of pentastomes. Pentastomid parasites were found in four snakes: one African rock python (Python sebae), one puff adder (Bitis arietans) and two Mozambique spitting cobras (Naja mossambica) were infested with a small number of Armillifer armillatus, respectively five, two and one adult parasites. As humans can be incidental/intermediate hosts for reptilian pentastomes, the zoonotic potential of these parasites, especially in tropical countries, is discussed.
De Meneghi
D
D
Dipartimento di Produzioni Animali, Epidemiologia ed Ecologia, Università degli Studi di Torino, Italy. demeneg@veter.unito.it
D000818:Animals; D001181:Arthropods / Q000145:classification; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D010273:Parasitic Diseases, Animal / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012911:Snakes / Q000469:parasitology*; D015024:Zambia / Q000453:epidemiology