In a groundbreaking discovery, scientists have reported finding a live 8cm (3in) worm within the brain of an Australian woman, marking the first-ever recorded case of such an occurrence. The worm, which resembles a “string-like structure,” was extracted from the damaged frontal lobe tissue of the patient, who hails from England and underwent surgery in Canberra last year.
The red parasite, believed to have been present for up to two months, has raised concerns about the transmission of diseases and infections from animals to humans. The incident has startled medical professionals, with Dr. Sanjaya Senanayake, an infectious diseases specialist at Canberra Hospital, revealing that the operating theatre personnel were taken aback when they discovered the wriggling parasite during the surgery.
This case highlights the growing risk of zoonotic infections, where diseases are transferred from animals to humans. Scientists believe the woman might have contracted the worm, known as Ophidascaris Roberts roundworm, after coming into contact with python feces and parasite eggs while handling a type of native grass, Warrigal greens, near a lake close to her residence.
The patient’s symptoms began with stomach pain, a cough, night sweats, and diarrhea, progressing to memory loss and worsening depression. After being admitted to the hospital in January 2021, a brain scan showed an abnormal lesion in her right frontal lobe. The cause of her condition was confirmed during a biopsy in June 2022.
The discovery emphasizes the growing risks of encroaching on animal habitats as human populations expand. Researchers are advocating for robust infectious disease surveillance systems to prevent such incidents in the future.
Source: BBC
