Gross Human Parasites IV - Sparganosis for the Flesh-Lover

Keeping pets at home? Love sushi? Enjoy frog-congee? 

Sparganosis is a parasitic infection, the culprit is a type of tapeworm belonging to the genus Spirometra. Mammals such as dogs, cats and raccoons are the definite host (final host) of the parasites. 

Copepods, Frog, Cat. (The first, second and definite hosts)

The adult Spirometra living in the intestines of their hosts lay uncountable eggs which discharge during hosts' defecation. The eggs are then consumed by copepods, the first intermediate hosts; amphibians such as snakes and frogs preying on copepods are the second intermediate hosts. Within the first intermediate hosts, the eggs hatches and the larvae live in the body cavities of copepods; after passing to the second intermediate hosts, the larvae continue to proliferate and penetrate into the muscles and subcutaneous tissues of the hosts. The second intermediate hosts of this parasites are eventually consumed by wild carnivores such as dogs and cats, and the parasites mature in their definite hosts and complete their life-cycle. 

And how do human get Spargonosis? 

Human are actually the accidental hosts of Spirometra (or maybe not accidental). 

• consumption of raw water from rivers or lakes 
• open wounds on body contacted with Spirometra sources such as animal feces or raw flesh 
• consumption of uncooked or not-fully-cooked flesh 

Once infected, the parasites will move to various organs such as eyes and brains of the patients or subcutaneous tissues in various body parts. No symptoms will be seen from the beginning, and eventually as the parasites grow, bulges (nodules) will develop on the infected regions along with pain. For infection in the eyes, patients' eyes will bulge out. For infection in the brains, neurological symptoms such as loss of motor control can occur. 

A boy with ocular Sparganosis
Source: click here

Surgical removal of adult Spirometra from eye. 

It has been reported in China rural areas that villagers believed in old traditional methods of applying raw frog flesh to wounds to speed up recovery, and thus resulted in being infected by Spirometra. Majority of human Spirometra infection cases occur in Japan, Korea and China.

Retracting an adult Spirometra from a frog.

Antibiotics have been given to patients infected with Spirometra, however this is not really beneficial as a cure. The best way to get rid of the parasites is through surgery. 

Ball Cutters - Ultimate Man Castration

Have you ever wonder why the Pacus are notorious as “Ball Cutters”? The only reason for the given name is the fish has been reported biting off the testicles of fishermen and men!

Pacus have teeth resemble human’s teeth, meaning that their teeth are supposedly made for crushing. The fish originated from rivers and streams in Amazon, and have been recently introduced to river systems of Papua New Guinea where the cases of man-castration have been reported. The fish use their teeth to crush nuts and seeds in their native habitat, however, after introducing into a new habitat lacking the suitable vegetation for survival, Pacus turn from herbivore to omnivore, converting their nuts-chombing ability into balls-chombing ability.

Ball-cuter's teeth (resembles human's teeth)

Pachus are relatives to the piranha, this explains their ability to "chomb" off their preys (including men's testicles). So guys, before going for a swim in the wild, make sure there isn’t any Ball-cutters looming out there, or else, put on your armor as you swim, I bet you wouldn’t want a 40pounds Ball-cutter going after you!