Journal of Parasitology

Published by: American Society of Parasitologists

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Journal of Parasitology 94(6):1295-1298. 2008
doi: 10.1645/GE-1597.1

Human Pentastomiasis in China: Case Report and Literature Review

Min Hua Yao, Fang Wu†, Lan Fang Tang*

Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, The Children's Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, 57 Zhugan Xiang, Hangzhou 310003, China.

101*Department of Medicine, The Children's Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, 57 Zhugan Xiang, Huangzhou 310003, China

102†To whom correspondence should be addressed

Abstract

A 13-yr-old boy was admitted because of persistent fever, abdominal pain, and diarrhea for 3 mo. Abdominal computerized tomography revealed hepatomegaly and multiple nodular low-density pathological changes. At laparotomy, considerable yellow and turbid ascites were seen in the abdominal cavity, and miliary nodules were noted on the surface of the omentum majus, liver, and small intestine wall. Histological examination revealed parenchymal tubercles containing several worms. Pathological diagnosis was parasitic granuloma. These parasites were identified as Porocephalus taiwana sp. nov. (Pentastomida). The patient made an uneventful recovery after therapy and was discharged. Another 17 cases of human pentastomiasis reported from China are reviewed. Human pentastomiasis is an extremely rare disease, and this is only the second case of human P. taiwana sp. nov. infection. Pentastomiasis should be considered in differential diagnosis of patients with a history of abdominal symptoms and eating of poorly cooked snakes.

Received: February 10, 2008; Revised: March 26, 2008; Accepted: May 13, 2008



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Fig. 1. Photos of Porocephalus taiwana sp. nov. (A) Microscopic examination illustrates the characteristics of shape, size, and 11 abdominal annuli. Hematoxylin and eosin, original magnification, ×20). (B) Worms recovered from patient's stool

table

Table I.Reported cases of pentastomiasis in China

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