All articles tagged with #parasitic worm
A man in India had a parasitic worm in his eye, which doctors removed by vacuuming out the eye's fluids, highlighting a rare case of ocular gnathostomiasis caused by a roundworm typically found in cats and dogs, with potential for serious vision damage.
Research reveals that the parasitic worm Schistosoma mansoni suppresses pain signals by producing molecules that inhibit TRPV1+ neurons, allowing it to infect hosts undetected. This discovery could lead to new painkillers and preventive treatments for schistosomiasis.
A study suggests that a parasitic, egg-eating worm found on female blue crabs in Chesapeake Bay could serve as a biomarker for their reproductive history, helping to manage and potentially rebuild crab populations by identifying spawning females and understanding reproductive patterns, especially in low-salinity conditions.
A two-year-old girl in Mississippi contracted a parasitic worm, Ascaris lumbricoides, which was found in her diaper by her mother. The girl, who lived on a farm, had been experiencing abdominal cramping and diarrhea for two weeks. Health officials believe she picked up the worm from a pig on the family farm. The toddler was treated with ivermectin, an anti-parasite drug, and no additional worms were found in stool samples. The CDC has been monitoring reports of parasitic worms, with exposure to pigs or soil contaminated with pig feces being the primary risk factor for sporadic cases in the US.
A 52-year-old man in the US developed tapeworm larva in his brain, likely from consuming undercooked bacon, leading to neurocysticercosis. Despite no recent travel to endemic areas or contact with pigs, the man's habit of eating undercooked bacon and poor hand hygiene likely caused the infection. The case highlights the increasing frequency of such infections in developed countries and the importance of considering neurocysticercosis in evaluating acute changes in migraines.
Researchers have discovered the presence of the parasitic brain worm, Angiostrongylus cantonensis, also known as the rat lungworm, in Atlanta, Georgia. The study found that over 20% of wild brown rats in the area had nematodes in their heart, pulmonary artery, or brain tissues. The researchers believe that the parasite has spread and become established in parts of the southeastern United States. Humans can become accidental hosts of the parasite by consuming raw or undercooked food, and while outbreaks are rare, the worm can cause a rare brain infection called eosinophilic meningitis. There is currently no specific treatment for the parasite, but healthcare providers may be able to offer treatments to reduce symptoms.
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.
Surgeons at Canberra Hospital in Australia removed a 3-inch parasitic worm from a woman's brain during a biopsy procedure. The worm, identified as the larva of an Australian native roundworm called Ophidascaris robertsi, was not previously known to be a human parasite. The patient had been experiencing symptoms such as forgetfulness and depression, and scans revealed changes in her brain. After the worm was removed, the patient's symptoms improved but persisted. Scientists believe she may have consumed the worm's eggs from contaminated vegetation or her hands. The case was published in the journal Emerging Infectious Diseases.
Surgeons in Australia made a world-first discovery when they found a live parasitic worm, about 3 inches long, in a woman's brain during a biopsy. The 64-year-old patient had been experiencing abdominal pain, diarrhea, respiratory symptoms, forgetfulness, and depression. The worm, identified as Ophidascaris robertsi, is typically found in pythons and had never been seen in a human before. It is believed that the woman unknowingly consumed the worm's eggs through contaminated vegetation. Experts warn that with human encroachment on animal habitats, more cases of parasitic infections may occur in the future.
A 64-year-old Australian woman suffering from a "mystery illness" had a 3-inch parasitic worm discovered in her brain by a neurosurgeon. The worm, identified as the larva of an Australian native roundworm named Ophidascaris robertsi, was found during a biopsy and was not previously known to be a human parasite. The patient had been experiencing various symptoms for over a year and had no direct contact with snakes, leading scientists to hypothesize that she consumed the worm's eggs from native vegetation or contaminated hands. The woman's symptoms improved after the worm was removed, but she continues to be monitored.
Doctors in Australia have made a world-first discovery by removing a live 3-inch parasitic roundworm from a woman's brain during surgery. The worm, identified as Ophidascaris robertsi, is typically found in pythons and is believed to have been transmitted to the patient through contaminated greens she had foraged near a lake area inhabited by carpet pythons. The case highlights the increasing risk of zoonotic infections as humans encroach on animal habitats. While this particular infection does not transmit between people, it serves as a reminder for foragers to wash their hands thoroughly after handling foraged products.
In a world-first discovery, doctors in Australia removed a live parasitic roundworm from a woman's brain. The 64-year-old patient had been experiencing abdominal pain, diarrhea, and a cough, which later progressed to forgetfulness and depression. The worm, identified as a third-stage larva of Ophidascaris robertsi, is typically found in carpet pythons. It is believed that the woman inadvertently ingested the worm's eggs, either from vegetation or through contamination. The patient is recovering and being monitored, while researchers investigate if a preexisting medical condition made her immunocompromised, allowing the parasite to enter her central nervous system.
In a world first, doctors and researchers in Australia have discovered a live parasitic worm, Ophidascaris robertsi, inside the brain of a 64-year-old woman. The worm, typically found in carpet pythons, was removed alive and wriggling during brain surgery. It is believed that the woman contracted the infection from Warrigal greens, a type of native grass, which serves as a habitat for pythons that shed the parasite's eggs through their feces. The woman experienced symptoms including forgetfulness and depression, and the worm's larvae were suspected to have infected other organs in her body. This case highlights the increasing risk of zoonotic diseases, which can pass from animals to humans.
Australian doctors made a world-first discovery when they found a live parasitic roundworm measuring 8 centimeters in a woman's brain. The 64-year-old patient had been experiencing symptoms of memory loss and depression. The worm, identified as a third-stage larva of the Ophidascaris robertsi species, is typically found in the gastrointestinal systems of carpet pythons in New South Wales. It is believed that the woman may have contracted the parasite by coming into contact with contaminated grass.