In an unprecedented medical occurrence, doctors identified a rare parasite residing in a woman’s eye for two years. The underlying cause of this extraordinary condition is likely contaminated crocodile meat, as reported in the case study published in JAMA Ophthalmology.
In an extraordinary medical case, a 28-year-old woman from Basankusu, Congo sought medical attention due to a growing mass in her left eye. Surprisingly, she exhibited no symptoms other than the noticeable lump.
Upon thorough examination, doctors discovered a mobile mass beneath the conjunctiva, which is the transparent outer layer of the eye. The subsequent surgical removal unveiled a pale, C-shaped larva measuring approximately 0.4 inches (10 millimeters) .
The uninvited visitor, Armillifer grandis, is a parasite prevalent in Africa, primarily relying on snakes as its primary hosts. Rodents serve as intermediate hosts in its life cycle.
Human infection usually occurs through accidental ingestion of parasite eggs from contaminated food or water, or via close contact with infected snakes. Additionally, consuming undercooked snake meat is another documented route of transmission.
Despite the woman’s denial of handling snakes, the doctors turned their attention to crocodile meat as a potential source. Remarkably, the woman had a regular diet that included crocodile meat. While no prior instances of Armillifer grandis infection have been documented in individuals consuming crocodile meat, it is well-established that crocodiles can harbor pentastomids.
Thus, it is plausible that the infection occurred through the ingestion of crocodile meat containing parasite eggs. This case introduces a novel transmission pathway for Armillifer grandis and underscores the importance of vigilance in understanding rare infections .
Additionally, the doctors considered an alternative scenario: the contaminated meat might have originated from market stalls selling snake meat, potentially resulting in cross-contamination.
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