Ophidascaris sp. in an African Rock Python (Python sebae) in Ghana: A Case Report

This study reports an Ophidascaris sp. infection in the gastrointestinal tract of a python snake found at a construction site in Labone, a suburb of Accra and the capital city of Ghana. Examination of the rectal contents of the snake by the zinc sulfate centrifugal floatation method revealed helmint...

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Main Authors: Langbong Bimi, Freda Kailyn Odamtten, Francis Anto, Ato Kwamena Tetteh
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Pasteur Institute of Iran 2021-06-01
Series:Journal of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases
Subjects:
Online Access:http://jommid.pasteur.ac.ir/article-1-364-en.pdf
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author Langbong Bimi
Freda Kailyn Odamtten
Francis Anto
Ato Kwamena Tetteh
author_facet Langbong Bimi
Freda Kailyn Odamtten
Francis Anto
Ato Kwamena Tetteh
author_sort Langbong Bimi
collection DOAJ
description This study reports an Ophidascaris sp. infection in the gastrointestinal tract of a python snake found at a construction site in Labone, a suburb of Accra and the capital city of Ghana. Examination of the rectal contents of the snake by the zinc sulfate centrifugal floatation method revealed helminths eggs. Besides, examining various sections of the alimentary canal revealed adult worms of the genus Ophidascaris in the anterior half of the small intestine just below the stomach's pyloric sphincter. Also, milking one of the female worms onto a microscope slide and examining the exudate by microscopy following staining with Lugol's iodine dye revealed eggs. Our findings may alert the possibility of zoonotic transmission of the parasite from pythons to humans, especially in the suburban/rural areas where people consume snake meat.
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issn 2345-5349
2345-5330
language English
publishDate 2021-06-01
publisher Pasteur Institute of Iran
record_format Article
series Journal of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases
spelling doaj-art-b171f91cc337454987349ceb9ceaf4e52025-08-20T02:19:57ZengPasteur Institute of IranJournal of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases2345-53492345-53302021-06-0192103107Ophidascaris sp. in an African Rock Python (Python sebae) in Ghana: A Case ReportLangbong Bimi0Freda Kailyn Odamtten1Francis Anto2Ato Kwamena Tetteh3 Department of Animal Biology and Conservation Science, University of Ghana, Legon, Accra, Ghana Department of Animal Biology and Conservation Science, University of Ghana, Legon, Accra, Ghana School of Public Health, University of Ghana, Legon, Accra, Ghana School of Public Health, Georgia State University, Atlanta, Georgia, United States This study reports an Ophidascaris sp. infection in the gastrointestinal tract of a python snake found at a construction site in Labone, a suburb of Accra and the capital city of Ghana. Examination of the rectal contents of the snake by the zinc sulfate centrifugal floatation method revealed helminths eggs. Besides, examining various sections of the alimentary canal revealed adult worms of the genus Ophidascaris in the anterior half of the small intestine just below the stomach's pyloric sphincter. Also, milking one of the female worms onto a microscope slide and examining the exudate by microscopy following staining with Lugol's iodine dye revealed eggs. Our findings may alert the possibility of zoonotic transmission of the parasite from pythons to humans, especially in the suburban/rural areas where people consume snake meat.http://jommid.pasteur.ac.ir/article-1-364-en.pdfpythonophidascarisghana
spellingShingle Langbong Bimi
Freda Kailyn Odamtten
Francis Anto
Ato Kwamena Tetteh
Ophidascaris sp. in an African Rock Python (Python sebae) in Ghana: A Case Report
Journal of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases
python
ophidascaris
ghana
title Ophidascaris sp. in an African Rock Python (Python sebae) in Ghana: A Case Report
title_full Ophidascaris sp. in an African Rock Python (Python sebae) in Ghana: A Case Report
title_fullStr Ophidascaris sp. in an African Rock Python (Python sebae) in Ghana: A Case Report
title_full_unstemmed Ophidascaris sp. in an African Rock Python (Python sebae) in Ghana: A Case Report
title_short Ophidascaris sp. in an African Rock Python (Python sebae) in Ghana: A Case Report
title_sort ophidascaris sp in an african rock python python sebae in ghana a case report
topic python
ophidascaris
ghana
url http://jommid.pasteur.ac.ir/article-1-364-en.pdf
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AT francisanto ophidascarisspinanafricanrockpythonpythonsebaeinghanaacasereport
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