Medical experts from The Australian National University (ANU) and the Canberra Hospital are in the spotlight after successfully pulling out a living 8-centimeter roundworm from the brain of a 64-year-old woman. This marks the world's first-ever documented case of human infection by Ophidascaris robertsi, a parasite usually found in carpet pythons.
The roundworm, described as "alive and wriggling," was surgically removed from the patient's brain, and is suspected to have had larvae present in other organs, including her lungs and liver.
"This is a groundbreaking discovery," declared Associate Professor Sanjaya Senanayake, a leading infectious disease expert at ANU and Canberra Hospital.
Ophidascaris robertsi is a parasite native to carpet pythons, typically residing in the snake's digestive tract. Humans infected by this parasite are considered accidental hosts. Infection by this roundworm in humans can result in symptoms like stomach pain, vomiting, and fever.
The afflicted woman, from southeastern New South Wales, likely contracted the parasite through contact with Warrigal greens, a type of native grass she used for cooking, located near a lake where the python had previously shed its parasite-laden feces.
Figure 2. Detection of Ophidascaris robertsi nematode infection in a 64-year-old woman from southeastern New South Wales, Australia. A) Magnetic resonance image of patient’s brain by fluid-attenuated inversion recovery demonstrating an enhancing right frontal lobe lesion, 13 × 10 mm. B) Live third-stage larval form of Ophidascaris robertsi (80 mm long, 1 mm diameter) removed from the patient’s right frontal lobe. C) Live third-stage larval form of O. robertsi (80 mm long, 1 mm diameter) under stereomicroscope (original magnification ×10).
The patient's journey began in January 2021 with symptoms of abdominal pain and diarrhea. These symptoms escalated to fever and respiratory issues. An MRI scan in 2022 revealed the brain lesion, leading to the historic surgical procedure.
"Finding the microscopic larvae was like trying to find a needle in a haystack," described Karina Kennedy, Director of Clinical Microbiology at Canberra Hospital.
Health experts emphasize the importance of proper hygiene, particularly for those who forage or garden.
"Wash your hands and ensure that all food is thoroughly cleaned," advised Kennedy.
The patient is now under close medical supervision.
"It's never easy to be the world's first case for any medical condition," concluded Senanayake, "but this patient has shown incredible courage and patience throughout this ordeal."
The research has been documented in the journal Emerging Infectious Diseases and involves experts from ANU, Canberra Health Services, CSIRO, the University of Melbourne, and the University of Sydney.
You can find the original release from the university here: Aussie Woman Contracts Brain Parasite from Carpet Python
