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. 2008 Dec;42(4):165–168.

Table 1.

The characteristics of patients and deceased diagnosed with pentastomiasis and the intra-abdominal distribution of the parasites

Patients characteristics Case 13 Case 2 Case 3 Case 4
Age (years) 55 9 32 26
Sex Male Female Male Male
Region of Origin in
Ghana		 North Volta Northern Upper East Upper East
Tribe Ewe Mamprusi (Walawale) Frafra (Sirigu) Tallensi
Totem Python Python Python Python
Diagnosi Laparotomy on account
of Intestinal
obstruction from
small bowel stricture		 Autopsy. Patient
died from Road
Traffic Accident		 Autopsy. Patient
died from Varicella
pneumonia		 Laparotomy on account
of penetrating
abdominal injury
Distribution of the
parasites in the abdomen		 Encysted larvae on
jejunum and in
omentum, granulomas
in the wall of
jejunum		 Encysted larvae on
whole of small
bowel and omentum.
Free mobile larva in
peritoneal cavity		 Free larva stuck in
an intra-hepatic portal
vein radicle.		 Encysted larvae in
the omentum, the
mesentery of jejunum
and the surface
of the liver