- In 2021, a woman from New South Wales, Australia visited a local hospital due to abdominal pain, diarrhea, and a cough.
- In 2022, her symptoms worsened and she began experiencing forgetfulness and depression.
- During medical examinations, doctors discovered a live worm in her brain, which they believe she contracted from consuming foraged greens.
In January 2021, a 64-year-old woman from New South Wales, Australia visited a local hospital reporting symptoms such as abdominal pain, diarrhea, night sweats, and a dry cough.
Initially, the doctors diagnosed her with pneumonia and prescribed medication. However, as time passed, her symptoms continued to worsen. In 2021, she developed a fever and persistent cough, and in 2022, she started experiencing depression and forgetfulness.
After further examinations, doctors detected a lesion in her brain that required a biopsy. During the surgery, they discovered an unexpected finding – a live, 3-inch parasitic roundworm, which is the first of its kind ever reported in a human.
Hossain, M., Kennedy, K. J., Wilson, H. L., Spratt, D., Koehler, A., Gasser, R. B….Senanayake, S. N. (2023). Human Neural Larva Migrans Caused by Ophidascaris robertsi Ascarid. Emerging Infectious Diseases, 29(9), 1900-1903. https://doi.org/10.3201/eid2909.230351.
She likely got infected from foraging wild greens
According to the case study published in the September issue of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s journal Emerging Infectious Diseases, the worm found in the patient’s brain, called Ophidascaris robertsi, is typically found in carpet pythons that reside near the patient’s home.
Although the woman never had direct contact with a snake, she frequently foraged wild greens known as Warrigal greens or New Zealand spinach to use in her cooking. Doctors speculate that the worm larvae were present in the python’s feces and were then ingested by the woman through contaminated greens, hands, or kitchen equipment.
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Treatment involved killing off more potential larvae
To treat the patient, doctors administered multiple medications to eliminate any remaining larvae that might be present in her organs. According to The Guardian, special caution had to be taken during the treatment process since this species of roundworm had not been previously treated in humans. Some medications that could kill the larvae also posed potential side effects such as inflammation.
The patient is still under close observation, as the worm can exist in animal hosts for years. Additionally, the doctors are investigating whether the patient’s preexisting medical conditions, including diabetes and hypothyroidism, may have contributed to the infection.
While some of the woman’s symptoms have improved, the case study notes that she continues to experience persistent neuropsychiatric symptoms.
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