title: Ocular pentastomiasis in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
abstract: Ocular pentastomiasis is a rare infection caused by the larval stage of pentastomids, an unusual group of crustacean-related parasites. Zoonotic pentastomids have a distinct geographical distribution and utilize reptiles or canids as final hosts. Recently, an increasing number of human abdominal infections have been reported in Africa, where pentastomiasis is an emerging, though severely neglected, tropical disease. Here we describe four ocular infections caused by pentastomids from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Two cases underwent surgery and an Armillifer grandis infection was detected by morphological and molecular approaches. Thus far, 15 other cases of ocular pentastomiasis have been reported worldwide. Twelve cases were caused by Armillifer sp., recorded almost exclusively in Africa, where such infections occur as a consequence of hunting and consuming snakes, their final hosts. Seven further cases were caused by Linguatula serrata, a cosmopolitan pentastomid whose final hosts are usually canids. Intraocular infections caused permanent visual damage in 69% and a total loss of vision in 31% of reported cases. In contrast, ocular adnexal cases had a benign clinical course. Further research is required to estimate the burden, therapeutic options and pathogenesis of this neglected disease.
authors: St. István & St. László Hospital, Dept. of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, Budapest, Hungary.
authors: Mihály
authors: M
authors: Sulyok
authors: MTA-ELTE-MTM Ecology Research Group, Budapest, Hungary; University of Debrecen, Department of Evolutionary Zoology and Human Biology, Debrecen, Hungary.
authors: Lajos
authors: L
authors: Rózsa
authors: St. István & St. László Hospital, Department of Hematology and Stem Cell Transplantation, Budapest, Hungary.
authors: Imre
authors: I
authors: Bodó
authors: National Reference Center for Tropical Diseases, Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Hamburg, Germany.
authors: Dennis
authors: D
authors: Tappe
authors: St. Raphael Ophthalmological Center, Ophthalmological Ambulance, Mbuji Mayi, Democratic Republic of Congo.
authors: Richard
authors: R
authors: Hardi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D015023:Democratic Republic of the Congo; D005123:Eye / Q000469:parasitology / Q000473:pathology; D005128:Eye Diseases; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010272:Parasitic Diseases; D057078:Pentastomida; D035583:Rare Diseases