| Armillifer armillatus | |
|---|---|
 | |
| A 4 cm specimen from therespiratory tract ofPython sebae | |
Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Ichthyostraca |
| Order: | Porocephalida |
| Family: | Porocephalidae |
| Genus: | Armillifer |
| Species: | A. armillatus |
| Binomial name | |
| Armillifer armillatus (Wyman, 1848) | |
| Synonyms | |
List
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Armillifer armillatus is a species oftongue worm in the subclassPentastomida[1] occurring in tropical Africa.[2] Its typicaldefinitive hosts arepythons, such as theAfrican rock python, whilerodents are presumed to act asintermediate 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 calledporocephalosis. 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 ruralbushmeat markets in the Democratic Republic of Congo hostArmillifer armillatus.[6]
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