A 64-year-old Australian woman underwent brain surgery unaware that she was harboring an unlikely but dangerous parasite. Neurosurgeon Dr. Hari Priya Bandi found and removed an eight-centimeter-long live parasite from her brain, the first of its kind ever recorded in the history of human medicine.
The woman was admitted to the hospital in 2021, after weeks of abdominal pain and diarrhea, as well as a dry cough and fever. With more specific symptoms like memory loss and depression occurring a year after diagnosis, doctors were able to confirm the presence of Ophidascaris robertsi in her body.
The woman, who lives in southeastern New South Wales, has been identified as a rare and unfortunate case of Ophidascaris robertsi, a parasite commonly found in carpet pythons. After foraging for New Zealand spinach, the woman likely contracted the parasite, which has spread to other vegetation and small mammals and marsupials—a cycle completed when a snake eats such an infected animal.
The patient’s miraculous recovery serves as an incredible reminder of all the potential internal threats and parasites that might exist, even within the human body. Fortunately, experts agree that individuals should take all necessary precautions when purchasing meals, supplements, and produce, and should buy from only reliable sources.
Ophidascaris robertsi is the first of its kind to be found in humans, and is a reminder of how important it is to understand the role of parasites in human health—from both a physical and psychological perspective.
With information from CNN
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