Diagnosis of Pentastome Infections and the Need for Increased Awareness Among Medical Practitioners and Diagnosticians in the Developed World

Abstract

Purpose of Review: The patterns of movement of people, and animals, are changing due to climate change, immigration and ongoing refugee crises. Subsequently, many parasitic diseases, including pentastomiasis, are also changing their patterns of distribution. This review is aimed at raising awareness among medical practitioners and diagnosticians, especially in non-endemic areas for pentastomiasis, the disease, and highlighting the issues with the identification of pentastome infections in humans. Recent Findings: Pentastome infections in humans can be either visceral or nasopharyngeal in location. Visceral pentastomiasis is generally asymptomatic and is usually only discovered incidentally during examination for other issues or at autopsy. Nasopharyngeal pentastomiasis presents as an acute infection, generally following ingestion of raw or undercooked offal. Identification of the causative agent/s of pentastomiasis is based on general morphological features, determined through histology or radiology, with molecular confirmation of species rare. Summary: Although specific identity of the pentastome infection is probably not required from a medical viewpoint with regard to treatment of the infection, it is needed to improve our understanding of the epidemiology of infections. Additionally, with the increased movements of humans, and other animals, and their associated parasitic diseases, these parasites will start to appear in non-endemic areas. Medical practitioners and diagnosticians, as well as veterinarians, need to be aware of these parasites to ensure an accurate identification of the disease.