A parasitic roundworm common in python snakes was excised “alive and squirming” from a woman’s brain during a stomach-churning medical experiment, Australian doctors said Tuesday.
Doctors were stunned by the result of an MRI scan of a 64-year-old Australian woman, who suffered from amnesia, and found an “atypical lesion” in the front part of her brain.
The patient’s amnesia was responsible for the so-called live eight-centimeter worm Ophidascaris robertsi,, which scientists said was a common parasite in kangaroos and pythons — but not in humans.
“Oh my god, you won’t believe what I just found in this lady’s brain – and it’s alive and vibrating.” said the neurosurgeon on the phone call he had with Sanjaya Senanayake, of Canberra Hospital, according to The Guardian.
The astonishment of the doctor who made the discovery in the brain of a patient in New South Wales is not surprising: after all, this had never happened before.
This is the first human case of ophidascaris described in the world,” says infectious disease specialist Sanjaya Senanayake. A finding described in an article published in the journal Emerging Infectious Diseases.
“To our knowledge, this is also the first case involving the brain of a mammalian species, human or otherwise,” he added.
According to the British newspaper, the patient was first admitted to hospital in late January 2021 after suffering from abdominal pain and diarrhoea, followed by a persistent dry cough, fever and night sweats. Symptoms included forgetfulness and depression in 2022.
It was at this time that she was referred to Canberra Hospital, where an MRI scan revealed the abnormal presence of the parasitic roundworm.
‘No one expected to find this’
“The neurosurgeon certainly didn’t think he’d find a writhing worm,” Senanayake said. “Neurosurgeons regularly deal with infections in the brain, but this was a first-time discovery in their careers. No one expected to find this,” he stressed.
Scientists believe the woman became infected after contact with vegetables near her home, which were likely contaminated with parasitic larvae excreted in the snakes’ feces. There must have been transfer of the eggs to the food or cookware through contact with the patient or after eating the vegetables.
The parasite, which appeared on the brain scans as a ‘thread-like structure’, was then identified through DNA testing.
“It’s never easy or desirable to be the first patient in the world somewhere,” Senanayake said. “I cannot express enough our admiration for this woman, who has shown patience and courage throughout this process,” he said.
Senanayake said Ophidascaris roundworms are known to infect animals in other parts of the world, and that it is “likely that more cases will become known in the coming years.”
One roundworm was removed from the patient’s body, but the doctors assumed there were others in various organs. That is why they opted for treatment, but always with extra care, as this is an unprecedented case and some medications can cause inflammation and other side effects.
Senanayake says the woman is recovering well and is being monitored regularly.
Source: DN
