The creepiest worm with an unexpected trick. The most terrible and dangerous human parasites in the world

Leukochloridium paradoxical

Candiru or catfish vandellia (Vandellia cirrhosa) swims into the gills of larger fish that live in the waters of the Amazon River, spreads outgrowths that damage the tissues of the gills. Catfish feeds on blood oozing from damaged fish tissues. Candiru identify a potential prey by the content of ammonia in the water, which is released during the breathing process of the fish. For the same reason, local residents try not to urinate in the waters of the Amazon River. Due to its small size, the catfish easily penetrates through the urinary duct into the bladder. Attaching Candiru to the walls of the bladder is accompanied by severe pain and can cause serious tissue damage, even death. Removal of catfish from the bladder is performed with the help of surgical intervention (Kandiru cannot leave the bladder on his own).

Candiru

ixodid ticks (genus: Ixodes) have the amazing ability to grow in size by absorbing an amount of blood several times their own weight. In addition, ixodid ticks are carriers of such dangerous diseases as tick-borne encephalitis and tick-borne borreliosis.

Gadfly(Gasterophilidae) lay their larvae under the skin of mammals, including humans. In Central and South America, the human skin gadfly lives, which lays eggs on mosquitoes. When a mosquito sits on the integument of the human body, the larvae of the skin gadfly “burrow” into the skin. With the bloodstream, they can travel throughout the body and even enter the brain through the blood-brain barrier. Eating away vital areas of the brain, gadfly larvae can lead to death.

Human skin gadfly larva in the brain

It is possible that in the future in our pharmacies there will be drugs containing eggs of artificially bred "breeds" of helminths, which will save us from many ailments.

This list may well be enough to convince many of you that there is no God or that these creatures are the result of rational design, but that designer is a real devil ...

Some of you might be a little disappointed that we don't use the absolute worst pictures we can find. We leave it to you, now let's get acquainted with some of them.

10. Bed bug

A photo. Bed bug (lat. Cimex lectularius)

For some people, bed bug bites may seem harmless, somewhat like repeated mosquito bites, and for some, their saliva can cause anaphylactic shock.

When bed bugs can be a huge annoyance to humans, consider ourselves lucky we are not female bed bugs. Mating takes place through a process called traumatic insemination, in which the male often stabs the female in the abdomen to deliver sperm.

Bed bugs get this place on our list only symbolically, since they give us a starting point, i.e. 1 out of 10 and also because we had a good photo!

9. Scabies itch

A photo. Norwegian scabies case

Just the word scabies alone makes it a rather unpleasant creation for a skin disease. Scabies known as the "seven year itch" causes intense itching and is highly contagious. It can occur virtually anywhere on the body or throughout the body.

While common scabies is an unpleasant experience, it is easily treated. However, a condition characterized by crusting on the skin, or Norwegian scabies, can occur in those who have a weak immune system. This hyperinvasion of mites could mean that instead of a dozen or so mites, there could actually be millions of crawling creatures huddled under the skin.

8. Eyeworm (loa loa)

A photo. Removal of the eyeworm

The nematode of the order Spirurida is our first (but not the last) worm. Even though they are small animals, roughly the same shape as the worms you might see in your garden, that's where the similarities end.

Obviously, this can be quite painful as the worm only moves slowly under the surface of the eyeball. Perhaps the only consolation is that when they are clearly visible, they can be surgically removed, a process that is perfectly visible in the video below.

So crawling around the eye, the eyeworm can spend many years. In fact, these worms can live up to 17 years, and for most of that time they can be completely undetectable until they become visible through the surface of the eye. This means that a person can become infected many years before they realize it. There are many reports of people visiting African countries and who, years later, found this African gift in their eye. In particular, it is reported about a woman who, 6 years after visiting Nigeria, found herself with an eye worm.

First case of human eye infection with livestock worms
Americans may be more vulnerable to certain potentially dangerous types of small worms, but they are tricky because they affect the eyes. This follows from a study published in February 2018 in the American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene. It describes the case of an Oregon woman who had 14 worms pulled out of her eye.

This is Thelazia gulosa or thelaziosis, usually deposited in the eyes of animals like dogs and cats, as well as cattle. Abby Beckley, 26, discovered something strange in her left eye five or six days after she experienced retinal irritation and headaches. Beckley said that he looked at himself in the mirror and noticed that something was moving in the eye. Finally, she managed to pull one out with her finger, and saw that it was a worm.

These worms are found in various animals and are transmitted by several species of flies, one of which is Musca autumnalis, which feeds on secretions from the eyes, mouth, and nostrils. According to Richard Bradbury, lead author of the study, this type of infestation causes eye irritation, but symptoms almost always disappear after removal of the worms. From time to time, they can migrate to the surface of the eyes, and also lead to corneal damage and even blindness. “The most curious thing about this case is that this species has never infected humans before. It's a livestock worm that somehow managed to get onto a human,” says Richard Bradbury.

A photo. Paralytic mite before and after feeding

The Australian paralytic mite is a typical unpleasant diametrically opposed to the general idea of arachnids. This is Australia, of course, which is why it shouldn't surprise you that such a nasty little mite has a potentially lethal venom.

Paralytic mites spend most of their time on leaves with their first pair of legs extended forward, waiting for someone to cling to and hold on to. Like other ticks, when picked up by a suitable host, they will attack, bury their heads under the skin and feed on blood until they look like they are about to explode (see photo).

Like other ticks, the paralytic tick can transmit many nasty diseases like rickettsial infections and Lyme disease. Unlike other ticks, this one releases a neurotoxin that can cause death due to paralysis that progresses in the lungs, causing breathing problems.

In Australia, up to 1989, 20 deaths were reported as a result of the bite of a paralytic tick. While risk awareness has increased, eliminating much of the danger, no antidote has yet been developed for the bite of this tick.

In addition to introducing the toxin, the tick often causes an allergic reaction, in fact it can be life threatening for some people.

6. Guinea worm

A photo. Guinea worm (Dracunculus medinensis) removal

The guinea worm (lat. Dracunculus medinensis) infects its host (human or dog) when it drinks water that is contaminated with water fleas containing worm larvae. Although the fleas are digested by stomach acid, the larvae are released and begin their journey by penetrating the walls of the host's stomach or intestines. They will live in the body for approximately 3 months where they will mate with other guinea worms.

After about a year, female guinea worms are over 50 cm (18 inches) long and ready for the last stage of their journey. From the abdomen, the worm makes its way through the pelvis along the bones of the leg to the foot. This is usually the first symptom of dracunculiasis (guinea worm), which can lead to very severe pain in the leg. Because of what, an infected person has a burning desire to cool his leg, i.e. put it in water, which of course soothes the burning sensation. It is at the moment when they reach the surface of the skin that the worm appears in the form of a bubble to release hundreds of thousands of larvae upon contact with water. This stage is painful and is associated with complications, including a severe allergic reaction.

Although guinea worm does not usually cause death, it can be a debilitating condition. There is also a risk of secondary infections when the worm dies during its journey through the human body.

5. Flea penetrating (sandy)

A photo. Leg infested with penetrating flea (Tunga penetrans)

This tick or flea (lat. Tunga penetrans) is the smallest flea in the world and was originally found only in the tropical climates of South and Central America. Unfortunately, thanks to human travel, it was accidentally introduced to sub-Saharan Africa. Basically these tiny itchy animals will thrive in any warm place where there is poverty and lack of hygiene. In areas where the penetrating flea infects people, up to half of the population can suffer from it.

The infection caused by these fleas is called sarcopsyllosis or tungiasis, and is most common in the feet, fleas like places with tender skin, like between the toes. This is because the penetrating flea only lives below the surface of the soil, waiting for an unfortunate mammalian host to jump on.

The flea then feeds on the host's blood and grows from about 1mm in diameter (the size of a small pea) all under the skin. The first symptom of the infection is described as a "pleasant" itch, however, this does not last long and becomes more intense. Other signs of infestation may be: bumps on the skin with tiny protruding fleas. After a while, itching may be accompanied by pain, sometimes severe, as the flea enlarges within its burrow.

It's unpleasant, but the actual presence of the flea can lead to a host of associated complications and secondary infections that cause the most serious problems. Tetanus and gangrene are common, as are about 150 other pathogens that are transmitted by fleas. Most of these infections appear when the flea has died and begins to rot deep under the host's skin.

4. Filariasis

A photo. Elephantiasis caused by filariasis worms

For easily understandable reasons, the disease caused by filariasis worms (filarias) is often mistakenly referred to as "elephantiasis", the real name is elephantiasis. It is strange to believe that the gross visible deformities in this case are actually caused by tiny roundworms that are spread by mosquito bites. This explains why, until the late 1800s, no connection with the causative agent was established in the world of medicine.

A simple explanation for the appearance of an extensive tumor is damage and blockage of the lymphatic vessels by filariae, which causes the accumulation of lymphatic fluid in the tissues. It usually affects the lower parts of the body and can be especially detrimental to men, as the swelling often causes the testicles to become very large. A quick internet search will turn up photos of unfortunate victims with cosmic-sized spherical legs.

It is estimated that more than 120 million people worldwide are infected with filariae. Most have minor symptoms of infection, for the rest it manifests itself in the form of a socially stigmatized life and disability. In some communities, lymphatic filariasis, a local variant of elephantiasis, can affect up to 50% of the population.

The outlook for those who suffer from elephantiasis is mixed. In some cases, surgery may be successful, but not always. Worms also live for a long time - up to 14 years, and during this time they reproduce, so often this remains for the rest of their lives.

3. Human roundworm

A photo. The removed part of the intestine clogged with ascaris

To some extent, the photo above is pretty much terrifying due to the damage done by the roundworm, Ascaris lumbricoides. This worm-infested patch was removed from the intestines of a 3-year-old South African child. In a similar case, almost 800 worms weighing 0.5 kg were found in a 2-year-old child who died.

Although the above cases are extremely rare, infection (ascariasis) is quite incredibly common. In fact, about one-fifth of the world's population has some degree of roundworm infection. Most people do not develop symptoms, only a small percentage develop abdominal pain and sometimes this leads to weight loss.

Worms can grow to a length of 35 cm (1 ft) and live by feeding on undigested food within our digestive tract, so it's no surprise that having a few of them can make you hungry.

Along with intestinal obstruction, other serious complications can occur. Some worms can find their way into the pancreas or gallbladder, which is very painful. In such cases, surgery is required, and even in this case, oddities can occur, since the roundworm may dislike certain anesthetics and may try to leave the body through the mouth.

In the subsequent trial, Krantz was acquitted due to reasonable doubt.

2. Tapeworms

A photo. Tapeworm

Apparently, the most serious case of tapeworm infection occurred in 1991 with Sally Mae Wallace from Mississippi. When most of us wouldn't want to experience this kind of thing, Sally seems to be proud of the fact that the record-breaking 11-meter (37-foot) worm was removed by doctors through her mouth. She quoted the moment on Twitter: “After about 20 feet of this thing came out of my mouth, I just knew I had broken the record. I was really overwhelmed with joy.” And who wouldn't?!

If you think this sounds bad, then take pity on the poor whales. Their version of the tapeworm, the tapeworm (Polygonoporus giganticus) can grow to over 30 meters (100 feet) in length.

While the whole thing is pretty disgusting, it's actually not life threatening. Unfortunately, this is not always the case, the pork tapeworm (lat. Taenia solium) can lead to serious problems and even death. This can happen when one of the tapeworm segments breaks, releasing thousands of eggs. They hatch into tiny larvae that migrate to various body tissues, causing the well-known cysticercosis. Here they remain dormant for many weeks, months or even years, after which they begin to grow to almost 2 cm in diameter. It can affect muscles, skin, and even the eyes and brain. You can only imagine the problem when it causes blindness, seizures and eventually death in some cases.

1. Larvae of the American tropical blowfly

A photo. Enlarged head of an American tropical blowfly larva

The blowfly life cycle begins with a female adult fly looking for an open wound to lay its eggs in. When a suitable host is found, over 100 eggs can be laid around and near the wound, developing into tiny larvae within 24 hours. These small larvae need food to grow, and the surrounding tissues become food. Using its cutting jaws and nasty looking fangs, the larva begins to burrow into the host's flesh, feeding as it goes.

These larvae can drill their holes down to the bone, gnawing through nerves and even into the bloodstream, their possibilities are endless and terrible. One particularly nasty trait of blowfly larvae is their habit of burrowing deeper if possible. And all this is not just grotesque, it is life-threatening, you can get secondary infections, the mortality rate from blowfly infestation is 8%.

Today the blowfly is found only in areas of Central and South America (it was successfully eradicated in the US in the 1950s). It was in Peru that a British tourist had a very unpleasant experience with these little carnivorous monsters. Rochelle Harris had just returned from her vacation when she started noticing a scratching noise that seemed to be coming from her head. Other signs were: headaches, shooting pains in her face and subsequent discharge from her ear.

Filaria are round and long worms, their length is about 45 cm, you can become infected with filaria larvae by biting blood-sucking insects, usually mosquitoes become carriers of larvae, less often other insects. Filariae penetrate the lymphatic vessels and clog them. As a result of infection, the lower limbs of a person swell so much that he loses the ability to move independently.

Filaria worm in appearance resemble a long thread

"Elephant sickness" is widespread in hot countries, both locals and tourists suffer from it, and the latter are in a more severe form. This disease is considered especially dangerous because of the difficulties in diagnosis and treatment - the disease becomes noticeable only when it passes into a chronic form, which is almost impossible to cure.

Schistosomes

Schistosomiasis is a predominantly tropical disease that is contracted by bathing in open water. Once in the human body, schistosomes can cause severe damage to the liver, bladder or intestines.

Guinea worm

loa loa

Loa loa worm lives in the human eye and causes blindness

Once in the human body, Loa Loa begins to migrate throughout the body, including penetrating into the eyeballs, brain or nervous tissue.

Mustachioed vandellia is found in the rivers of the Amazon and is considered very dangerous.

These are quite dangerous "neighbors" that can cause serious harm to the human body and even carry a serious danger to life.

Vlasoglav.
Pork tapeworm.

Loa-Loa is a creepy kind of worms that "prefer" to live in the eyes of a person, as in the photo. They can also affect subcutaneous adipose tissue.

These are roundworms, the length of which can reach 7-8 cm. Loa-Loa get into the human body when bitten by horseflies.

The main symptoms of the stay of helminths resemble the manifestations of conjunctivitis and are accompanied by:

tearing,
pain
and pain in the eyes.

Loa-Loa are removed from the eyes only by surgery.

Vlasoglav is another type of helminth that is common in tropical countries. Vlasoglav can live in any part of the human body, causing vomiting, nausea, stool disorders, loss of appetite.

The most terrible consequences of the defeat by helminths of this group is the death of part of the gastrointestinal tract.

At this time, a person feels terrible pain and itching.

"Close neighborhood" with Negleria can be fatal for a person. Negleria itself belongs to the category of amoebas, and therefore is completely invisible to the naked eye.

When it enters the human body, Negleria Fowler affects the nervous system and begins to actively feed on the medulla. Symptoms of infection:

nausea,
vomit,
severe headaches,
convulsions,

fever. Gradually, complete destruction of the brain occurs - the patient begins to convulse, see hallucinations, and breathing problems appear.

To date, there is no specific treatment to help get rid of Negleria. Human death occurs 7-8 days after infection.

Tapeworms are the largest worms in existence today in the world. The maximum length of these flat, tapeworms can reach 10-12 m. The main source of tapeworm infections is the consumption of undercooked fish or meat. There are several varieties of these worms, the most terrible of which are:

Bull tapeworm.
Pork.
Fish tapeworm.

Bovine and pork are the most dangerous worms that get through undercooked meat, eating food with dirty hands.

The fish tapeworm lives in the meat of mammals that feed on infected fish. They inflict great suffering on their owner, manifesting themselves as severe abdominal pain, vomiting, nausea, loss of appetite and severe weight loss.

The bovine tapeworm is very difficult to excrete from the body, since its length can reach 12 m. The pork worm is smaller in size - up to 7 m, but it is also extremely difficult to get rid of it.

At the same time, it is believed that only helminths that live in the intestine can be removed. In the event that the pork tapeworm "settled" in other parts of the body - most often in the liver, eyes, lungs and brain.

Skin gadfly

In the absence of oxygen, the gadflies get out - and in this case they can be removed manually. The main method of treatment remains surgery - only an experienced surgeon can completely remove all the larvae of the skin gadfly.

Anisakid larvae enter the human body through dirty hands, as well as the use of seafood and fish with insufficient heat treatment. That is why most often this disease occurs in people who are fans of Asian cuisine. You can also become infected by eating insufficiently salted or smoked fish.

When ingested, anisakides affect the mucous surface of the gastrointestinal tract, provoking the appearance of bleeding ulcers, wounds and inflammation.

Anisakidosis can be identified by the following symptoms: nausea, severe pain in the abdomen, the appearance of vomiting with an admixture of blood. Also, a person may experience severe allergic reactions, chills, fever, flatulence, seething in the stomach.

In the absence of timely medical care, a fatal outcome is possible.

This disease is especially dangerous for young children. They can lead to dangerous, irreversible consequences - stunting, mental and physical retardation.

Cysticerci

Cysticercosis is a rare and dangerous disease that is characterized by extreme severity of course, extensive damage to important internal organs and systems, low treatment efficiency and high mortality rates. Treatment of cysticercosis is carried out only in a hospital, under the strictest medical supervision.

9. Onchocerciasis

8. Filaria Bancroft

When a person swims or bathes in ponds with unfiltered water, they can swallow a water flea. These fleas love polluted lakes and ponds where they sit and wait for their prey. When they enter the stomach, the gastric juice dissolves the flea, but the guinea worm that was inside the flea (Dracunculiasis) passes on. A year later, the worm already reaches a length of 60-90 cm. The human body is already becoming small for him, and he is trying to get out of it to the surface. The body begins to burn, there is a desire to plunge into cold water to get rid of burning and pain. But this is what the worm needs! He releases thousands of his larvae into the water, while he himself remains in the body.

4. Common vandellia - vampire fish

Both parents and representatives of the authorities always remind that it is impossible to write in a river or a lake or a pool. Now, for sure, no one will do this after reading about the usual vandellia. This is a very small fish that lives in the Amazon and enters the bladder during urination. In the body, it feeds on blood and flesh, causing severe pain.

Ascaris, an annelids, can grow up to 30 cm in length in humans. It is easy to get infected in rural areas. Her residence inside is not accompanied by any symptoms until the number of worms reaches a maximum. If this happens, then headaches, fever, nausea, diarrhea, etc. will torment you. In general, roundworm affects children more often than adults, as they wash their hands less often.