Live parasitic worm found in Australian woman’s brain in world’s first discovery

In the first case of its kind, Australian doctors discovered a live 8-centimeter parasitic worm inside the brain of a woman experiencing symptoms of memory loss and depression.

According The Guardianthe patient, a 64-year-old woman from south east NSW, was first admitted to her local hospital in late January 2021 after suffering three weeks of abdominal pain and diarrhoea, followed by constant dry cough, fever and sweats nocturnal

In 2022, her symptoms also included forgetfulness and depression, which caused her to be referred to a hospital in Canberra. An MRI of her brain revealed abnormalities that required surgery.

“But the neurosurgeon certainly didn’t go in there thinking they would find a squirming worm,” said Dr. Sanjaya Senanayake, an infectious disease doctor at Canberra hospital. The Guardian.

“Neurosurgeons regularly deal with infections in the brain, but this was a once-in-a-career finding. No one expected to find that,” he added.

Recognized as a third stage larva belonging to the nematode species Ophidascaris robertsi, this case constitutes a unique event in the history of medicine. The incident has been documented in the newspaper. Emerging infectious diseases. This parasitic roundworm typically inhabits the gastrointestinal system of carpet pythons native to the Australian state of New South Wales.

“Canberra is a small place, so we sent the worm, which was still alive, directly to the lab of a CSIRO scientist who has a lot of experience with parasites,” said Dr Senanayake.

“He just looked at it and said, ‘My God, this is Ophidascaris robertsi.'”

The researchers involved in his case proposed the theory that a python could have excreted the parasite through its feces onto the grass. They speculate that the patient probably contracted the parasite by coming into contact with the native grass, subsequently transferring the eggs onto food or kitchen utensils, or possibly ingesting them while eating vegetables.