''Armillifer'' is a genus of
tongue worms in the subclass
Pentastomida
The Pentastomida are an enigmatic group of parasitic arthropods commonly known as tongue worms due to the resemblance of the species of the genus ''Linguatula'' to a vertebrate tongue; molecular studies point to them being highly derived crust ...
.
It contains the following species:
*''
Armillifer aborealis''
*''
Armillifer agkistrodontis''
*''
Armillifer armillatus''
*''
Armillifer australis''
*''
Armillifer grandis''
*''
Armillifer mazzai''
*''
Armillifer moniliformis''
*''
Armillifer yoshidai''
Interactions with humans
Obligate parasites, ''Armillifer'' worms had been linked to human disease as early as 1847, although infections are rare and are caused by human consumption of undercooked meat of a
host
A host is a person responsible for guests at an event or for providing hospitality during it.
Host may also refer to:
Places
* Host, Pennsylvania, a village in Berks County
* Host Island, in the Wilhelm Archipelago, Antarctica
People
* ...
. The majority of infections are caused by the tropical African species ''
Armillifer armillatus.'' Only 45% of patients in one study experienced symptoms from the infection. Unfortunately, 67% of patients with worm infections in their eyes were driven permanently blind by the parasite.
References
{{Maxillopoda-stub
Crustaceans
Crustaceans described in 1922
Parasitic arthropods of humans