title: Human pentastomiasis in Sub-Saharan Africa.
abstract: Pentastomiasis is a rare zoonotic infection but it is frequently observed in Africa and Asia. Most human infections are caused by members of the Armillifer armillatus species. They are responsible for visceral pentastomiasis in Western and Central Africa. Humans may be infected by eating infected undercooked snake meat or by direct contact with an infected reptile. An increasing number of infections are being reported in Congo, Nigeria, and Cameroon. Despite an occasionally high number of nymphs observed in human viscera, most infections are asymptomatic and often diagnosed by accident during surgery or autopsy. The clinical presentation of pentastomiasis is quite varied and depends on infected tissues. The liver, lungs, and pleura are most frequently involved. Abdominal emergencies have been reported. Diagnostic delays always occur and diagnosis focuses on the patient's lifestyle and living environment. It is mainly based on the morphological description of the parasite's calcified cuticle, the site of the lesion, and the parasite's region of origin. Most patients do not require any treatment. Personal measures such as avoidance of contact with snake droppings are recommended to prevent transmission. Imported pentastomiasis has been observed in African migrants.
authors.affiliation: Centre médicosocial de l'Ambassade de France au Cameroun, BP 1616, Yaoundé, Cameroon; Service des urgences-SMUR, hôpital Gabriel-Martin, Saint-Paul, Reunion. Electronic address: christophevanhecke@yahoo.fr.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Vanhecke
authors.affiliation: IRD, institut de recherche pour le développement, UR 072, BP 1857, Yaoundé, Cameroon; Laboratoire évolution, génomes et spéciation, UPR 9034, Centre national de la recherche scientifique (CNRS), 91198 Gif-sur-Yvette cedex, France; Université Paris-Sud 11, 91405 Orsay cedex, France.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Le-Gall
authors.affiliation: Mosaic (Health, Environment, Data, Tech), Yaoundé, Cameroon.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Le Breton
authors.affiliation: Service de médecine interne et des maladies tropicales, hôpital Pellegrin, CHU de Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France; Centre René-Labusquière, institut de médecine tropicale, université Victor-Segalen, 33000 Bordeaux, France.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Malvy
mesh_terms: D017954:Africa South of the Sahara / Q000453:epidemiology; D000818:Animals; D000977:Antiparasitic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004197:Disease Reservoirs; D054242:Emigrants and Immigrants; D016266:Food Parasitology; D005602:France / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008460:Meat / Q000469:parasitology; D010272:Parasitic Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy / Q000635:transmission; D010273:Parasitic Diseases, Animal / Q000453:epidemiology; D057078:Pentastomida; D012911:Snakes / Q000469:parasitology; D000076082:Travel-Related Illness; D014781:Viscera / Q000469:parasitology
chemical_list: D000977:Antiparasitic Agents
keywords: Afrique centrale; Afrique de l’Ouest; Armillifer armillatus; Central Africa; Pentastomiasis; Pentastomose; Western Africa