Human pentastomiasis caused by Armillifer moniliformis in Malaysian Borneo

Abstract

We report a case of visceral pentastomiasis caused by Armillifer moniliformis in a 70-year-old aboriginal farmer from rural Malaysian Borneo. The patient complained of upper abdominal pain, jaundice, and loss of weight. Radiological investigations and subsequent histopathological examination revealed an adenocarcinoma of the pancreas with an adjacent liver nodule containing a nymph of A. moniliformis. This report constitutes the first documented human pentastomid infection in the whole of Malaysia after nearly 40 years, and it is the third description from Malaysian Borneo. Cases of human and animal pentastomiasis in Malaysia are discussed.

Figure 1.

Map of Malaysia showing the patient's place of residence (5°20′ N, 116°10′ E) in Sabah, Malaysian Borneo.

Figure 2.

C-shaped nymph of A. moniliformis from the patient (hematoxylin and eosin stain) (Original magnification: 1.6×).

Figure 3.

Sections of the nymph of A. moniliformis. (A) Rostral section of the parasite with four oral hooks. (B) Tapering posterior part of the parasite with annulations. (C) Close-up view of A. The mouth is surrounded by four hooks. (D) Annulated rings from the mid-body. (E) Close-up view of the oral hook. (F) Close-up view of a single annulated ring. All sections are stained with haematoxylin and eosin (Original magnification: A and B, 4×; C and D, 10×; E and F, 40×).