By Kwedu News
A roundworm usually found in pythons has been discovered in a human brain in Australia in what scientists have said is a world first such case in the medical science field.
The roundworm, scientifically known as Ophidascaris robertsi, is a parasitic worm commonly found in carpet pythons.
Writing for the Australian Geographic Newsletter, Candice Marshall, says a 64-year-old woman from south-eastern New South Wales was found with a eight centimetre long parasitic round worm.
The parasite is believed started developing from over 2 years ago and slowly progressed till it was discovered.
“She started experiencing symptoms of abdominal pain and diarrhoea, followed by fever, cough and shortness of breath.
“In retrospect, these symptoms were likely due to migration of roundworm larvae from the bowel and into other organs, such as the liver and the lungs,” Marshall reports Canberra Hospital’s Director of Clinical Microbiology and Associate Professor at the ANU Medical School, Karina Kennedy having said over the discovery.
The parasite is said was evasive at its early stages and Doctors could not see it but only symptoms.
“The woman was experiencing forgetfulness, impaired thought-processing abilities and depression.
“It was then that an MRI scan revealed an atypical lesion on her brain.
“This atypical lesion turned out to be an eight-centimetre long roundworm… and it was still alive!” Marshall reports.
Scientists say the discovery is novel.
“This is the first-ever human case of Ophidascaris to be described in the world,” leading ANU and Canberra Hospital Infectious Disease expert and co-author of the study Associate Professor Sanjaya Senanayake is reported having said.
Marshall says Carpet Pythons, scientifically known as Morelia Spilota, are the most common known host of Ophidascaris robertsi roundworms.
Normally the larvae from the roundworm are found in small mammals and marsupials, which are eaten by the python, allowing the life cycle to complete itself in the snake.
Marshall reports that the woman likely caught the roundworm when collecting Warrigal greens, a type of native grass, researchers have surmised.
“The parasite typically lives in a python’s oesophagus and stomach, and sheds its eggs in the snake’s faeces.
“It is thought carpet python faeces were present in the area the woman gathered the Warrigal greens, beside a lake near her home.
There is a rise in zoonotic diseases globally and this has become a cause for concern as about 30 new infections have been discovered in the last three decades, however, the roundworm will not be much of a threat as the COVID-19 causing virus.
“This Ophidascaris infection does not transmit between people, so it won’t cause a pandemic like SARS, COVID-19 or Ebola.
“However, the snake and parasite are found in other parts of the world, so it is likely that other cases will be recognised in coming years in other countries,” Marshall reports.
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