Very few human cases of acanthocephaliasis have been reported worldwide, most of which have been caused by the species Moniliformis moniliformis. None of the reported species is a specific human parasite or at least occurs regularly in him. Human infection seems to reflect particular localized dietary habits or aberrations. Despite of their economic and medical significance, acanthocephalans were found to be good bioindicators of heavy metal pollution and environmental deterioration in aquatic ecosystems.
Species of medical importance:
Class: Archiacanthocephala
Macracanthorhynchus hirudinaceus
Macracanthorhynchus ingens
Moniliformis moniliformis
Class: Palaeacanthocephala
Compared with the class Archiacanthocephala, acanthocephalans belonging to this class were reported relatively few times in humans.
Acanthocephalus rauschi
Bolbosoma sp. (unidentified species)
Corynosoma strumosum
Corynosoma validum
Plagiorhynchus sp.
Pseudoacanthocephalus bufonis
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