Radiographic Aspects of Pentastomiasis in Southern American Bushmaster (Lachesis rhombeata).

Abstract

Pentastomids are parasites of the respiratory system of reptiles, birds, and mammals, where they can cause lesions resulting in the death of their intermediate hosts. This report describes radiographic aspects of pulmonary pentastomid infection in the Southern American bushmaster (Lachesis rhombeata). A female juvenile snake rescued in an urban area of the Northeast region of Brazil presented with lethargic behavior. Radiographic examination of the coelom cavity showed long cylindrical structures in the respiratory system with soft tissue radiodensity and width ranging between 4.0 and 5.0 mm. The next day, the snake died and was submitted to necropsy, where lung parasites were discovered, which were later identified as Porocephalus stilesi. A case of correlation between radiographic and macroscopic findings of pentastomid in snakes has not previously been reported.