Invasion of the Bodysnatchers (human parasites, with some pictures)

The BBC ^ | Tuesday, 25 November, 2003, 12:54 GMT | BBC Story Monkey

[alnitak]

There I was, taking a little break while I try to figure out a difficult SQL query, when I came across this charming article. Try a google search for Dracunculiasis OR "Guinea Worm" for more...

As he was being served, the waiter took one look at him and fled in horror.

Broughton chased him down the street urging him to tell him what was wrong. But the boy would only point, wordlessly, at his nose.

Broughton returned home and sat in trepidation in front of a mirror.

His patience was rewarded when a brown worm-like creature emerged from his right nostril and looked around.

"I swear it had two beady eyes on it. And it came out two or three inches, looked around and then retracted. I thought it was a dream, a vision of some sort."

[js1138]

I'll be thinking of you tomorrow, but not fondly.

[TheDon]

I've heard about the botfly before, and tapeworms, of course, but the aquatic leech, that's a new one for me. Great article. Well, gotta get some breakfast.

[finnman69]

Yummy, just in time for Thanksgiving. Thanks!

[blau993]

"I swear it had two beady eyes on it. And it came out two or three inches, looked around and then retracted. I thought it was a dream, a vision of some sort."

I have the same reaction when I see Dennis Kucinic.

[AmericanInTokyo]

GRRRRrrrOSS!

[Bikers4Bush]

LOL!!!!!!

[AngryJawa]

I have the same reaction when I see Dennis Kucinic

Bwahahahahah!!!

[Scott Mahrle]

This does not add up:

the worm subsequently grew at an astonishing four centimetres a week... Twelve weeks later... Mike passed out an intact, six foot long tapeworm.

At four centimeters per week, after 12 weeks the worm would be 48 centimeters. That's only about 19 inches, not six feet.

[martin_fierro]

As part of a University of Salford experiment to develop a diagnostic test for beef tapeworm, biologist Mike Leahy volunteered to grow this gruesome parasite inside his own gut.

Just damn.

[Prodigal Son]

biologist Mike Leahy volunteered to grow this gruesome parasite inside his own gut.

Hardcore.

[Axenolith]

There's some species of botfly in VA. I caught a mouse in a trap once and was astonished to see a worm nearly a third its size had crawled out of it. My grandfather told me the usually are partial to deer and he hadn't seen one in a mouse before, it was an eye opener...

[Lijahsbubbe]

In fact, parasites make up the majority of species on Earth.

Thanks to liberals.....

[americanSoul]

In fact, parasites make up the majority of species on Earth.

Uhoh, the liberals are taking over.

Darwin, call your office now!

[showme_the_Glory]

those who drink directly from a stream should expect a higher than usual rate of parasitic invasion??????

[alnitak]

The advanced math was obviously too much for the BBC editorial dept. Most journalists are still at the "some beans" stage of arithmetic. They even mixed up the units, moving from cm to feet with the sort of wanton abandon which would do NASA proud.

If we assume 4 cm PER DAY, we get 4x7x12 = 356cm, which is a lot closer to 12 feet.

[Lazamataz]

This gets my appetite going.

[alnitak]

That's a typo. I really did mean 336 cm, honest.

[ladyinred]

I'll be thinking of you tomorrow, but not fondly.

ROTFL!

[ElkGroveDan]

His patience was rewarded when a brown worm-like creature emerged from his right nostril and looked around.

This is one situation where it appears Michael Jackson has an advantage over the rest of us. I would expect that these worms are not fond of polyurethane.