[Janelle Ward]

Fleas and ticks, tapeworms and roundworms, amoebas and flagellates. Most of us have some knowledge of the dangers of these common parasites. But a parasite that is living in a woman’s brain? That’s a scary thought.

The 64-year-old English woman was living in NSW and experiencing abdominal pain and diarrhoea, a dry cough and night sweats and ,almost 12 months later, forgetfulness and depression. Eventually, she was referred to Canberra Hospital.

An MRI revealed abnormalities requiring surgery. After the operation, a stunned neurosurgeon called Canberra hospital infectious diseases physician Dr Sanjaya Senanayake and said: “Oh my god, you wouldn’t believe what I just found in this lady’s brain – and it’s alive and wriggling.”

The neurosurgeon successfully removed the roundworm, which measured 8cm (80mm) in length and 1mm in diameter and was identified as a third-stage larva of the Ophidascaris robertsi nematode species.

It has been revealed that the woman lives near a lake area inhabited by carpet pythons and often collected native grasses to use in cooking.

The doctors and scientists involved in the case believe a python may have shed the parasite via its faeces into the grass. The woman was then infected with the parasite from touching the native grass and transferring the eggs to food or kitchen utensils, or after eating the greens.

The case is unprecedented in medical history and has been documented in the journal of Emerging Infectious Diseases.

Do you collect native grasses for cooking? How do you guard against parasites?

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