Computed tomographic findings of presumptive pulmonary pentastomiasis in five South American bushmasters (Lachesis rhombeata) and relationship between tracheal diameter and pentastomid size

This study describes the tomographic aspects of presumptive pulmonary pentastomid infection in five South American bushmasters (Lachesis rhombeata) rescued in urban areas of the northeast region of Brazil. The parasites were identified as elongated, and sometimes coiled, cylindrical structures, with widths ranging from 2.0 to 6.2 mm. Pentastome parasites were observed in both the cranial and caudal regions of the lungs, but none were identified in the trachea. Evidence of a lung lesion was associated with an attached pentastome in the tomographic images of one snake. Biometric analysis of the trachea in the snakes evaluated revealed diameters ranging from 4.2 to 6.7 mm, and the width of the pentastomes was frequently greater. This study found non-invasive pulmonary CT scans to be a useful tool to identify presumptive pentastomid infections in the South American bushmaster and may be useful to identify pentastomid infections in other snake species.