Human Ophidascaris Infection: A possibility in all Ecological Biotopes of Nigeria

Recently, Ophidascariasis was established as a zoonotic infection following the report of human neural larval migrans caused by Ophidascaris robertsi in an Australian woman. Ophidasacaris robertsi is an intestinal parasite of the Australian carpet python which may have infected the woman through the consumption of contaminated vegetables or the contamination of kitchen utensils with eggs of the parasite. Ophidascaris larvae are frequently encountered in anuran amphibians in all ecological biotopes in Nigeria. Some common snake species have been established as definitive hosts of Ophidascaris in Nigeria. The presence of these snakes in rural farms and peri- urban gardens raises the possibility of contamination of vegetables and fruit with parasite eggs, which can lead to human infection. In order to draw attention to the possible danger of human infection with this parasite, we compiled available information from previous and ongoing investigations to establish that human ophidascariasis is a possibility in Nigeria. Precautionary measures to prevent human infections have been suggested.