In a world first, neurosurgeon say an 8cm (3in) round worm called “Ophidascaris robertsi” has been found alive in the brain of an Australian woman.
Key points
- The round worm was pulled from the patient’s damaged frontal lobe during surgery in Canberra in 2022.
- Ophidascaris robertsi is a roundworm usually found in pythons. The Canberra hospital patient marks the world-first case of the parasite being found in humans. The patient resides near a lake area inhabited by carpet pythons.
- The woman, 64, had for months suffered symptoms like stomach pain, a cough and night sweats, which evolved into forgetfulness and depression. Her case is believed to be the first instance of a larvae invasion and development in the human brain.
- According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, three-quarters of new or emerging infectious diseases in people come from animals.
- The world-first case highlighted the danger of diseases and infections passing from animals to humans, especially as people and animals start to live more closely together and habitats overlap more.
