Massive visceral pentastomiasis in a long-tailed macaque - an incidental finding

Abstract

Background: An unusual case of visceral pentastomiasis in a male adult long-tailed macaque imported from China is reported.

Methods: The monkey was part of a toxicologic study. A massive accumulation of C-shaped parasites in various visceral organs was found post-mortem.

Results: Based on the morphology of the nymphs, pentastomiasis was diagnosed etiopathologically. The pentastome genus and species was identified as Armillifer agkistrodontis by PCR and respective sequencing.

Conclusion: Molecular diagnostic methods are necessary tools to determine the exact species involved.