| Armillifer grandis | |
|---|---|
 | |
| adult specimens inBitis nasicornisat a rural bushmeat market, DR Congo | |
Scientific classification | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Ichthyostraca |
| Order: | Porocephalida |
| Family: | Porocephalidae |
| Genus: | Armillifer |
| Species: | A. grandis |
| Binomial name | |
| Armillifer grandis (Hett, 1915) | |
| Synonyms | |
| |
Armillifer grandis is a species oftongue worm in the subclassPentastomida found in tropical Central and West Africa.[1] Its typicaldefinitive hosts areviperid snakes (such asBitis gabonica,Bitis nasicornis, andCerastes cerastes), 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 that is often calledporocephalosis. Most human infections are asymptomatic, although some cases are debilitating and even lethal.[2] Abdominal infections are more widespread, but typically undiagnosed,[3] while ocular manifestations are rare[4] and may cause blindness.[5]
Most of the vipers sold for human consumption at the ruralbushmeat markets in the Democratic Republic of Congo hostA. grandis.[6]
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