Parasitic Worm Discovered in Australian Woman's Brain During Investigation of Mystery Illness

A 64-year-old woman in Australia experienced a medical mystery that baffled doctors for 18 months until they discovered a live, wriggling parasitic worm in her brain. The worm, a larva of the Ophidascaris robertsi species, had never been reported inside a human brain before. The woman may have inadvertently consumed the worm's eggs from contaminated vegetation or through contact with carpet pythons near her home. The worm's journey through her body to her brain remains a mystery. The case highlights the difficulty in diagnosing and treating parasitic infections and the increasing risk of parasites crossing over to humans as habitats are encroached upon. The woman's condition has greatly improved since the surgery to remove the worm.