Microbiology
Linguatula (the tongue worm, so-called because of its shape) and Armillifer.
Epidemiologic Risks
Found in Africa, the Middle East, and Malaysia, it is associated with eating raw snake.
Armillifer and Porocephalus: live in the lungs of reptiles.
Linguatula: carnivorous mammals such as dogs by way of sheep, goats, and camels.
Syndromes
Usually, no symptoms unless they go to a vital area. Can be found serendipitous in the OR when mucking about for other reasons, and is a cause of eosinophilia.
Linguatula serrata and Armillifer can infect humans causes a self-limited allergic nasopharyngitis--the halzoun (allergic pharyngitis following the consumption of raw or undercooked ovine liver in Lebanon)(PubMed) or marrara syndrome (PubMed).
On x-ray "calcified nymphs of Armillifer spp. and less often L. serrata are detected on pulmonary or abdominal radiographs, showing a horseshoe or C-shaped structure (PubMed)."
Treatment
None.
Notes
No more snake sushi for me.
Last update: 05/05/18