In the recent past, Parasitology.com fielded parasite related questions via its "Ask the Resident Parasitologist" feature- and answered them (as best was possible) using terminology, logic, and language understandable to that of the questioner- from lay persons to scientists.

The topics covered a wide variety of parasite related subjects.

In order to benefit others who may have similiar questions, problems, or parasite related concerns, we have archived our collection of parasitology related questions and their answers below... (after mildly editing them for spelling, redundant or non-relevant content, etc). The identities of the questioners remain anonymous as a matter of our privacy policy.

(As this archive expands in subject matter, we will continue to attempt to categorize the q and a's into topics that make sense.)

The questions are highlighted in red, their corresponding answers in black... Click on any linked text to read more.

We are looking for a new 'Resident Parasitologist'

If you are an accredited parasitologist and would be interested in becoming this site's new "resident parasitologist", we'd love to talk to you.

Our friend and previous resident parasitologist is unable to continue his position of answering the myriad questions coming into this site about parasitology related subjects- and so we are looking for another person to fill his void.

If you think you might be that person, please email us here and tell us about yourself.

Scroll down to see our archived questions and answers about parasitology, (from our previous parasitologist), and to get an idea of the kinds of questions you might be faced with as our new resident parasitologist.

Categories: General Parasitology | Yikes, Do I Have Parasites? | Identification Related | Miscellaneous

Note: As these archives expand over time, we will continue to do our best to organize them in various logical topics that correspond to general themes of parasitological interests. Some of these topics can easily overlap into others, (or not be specific to one of our categories), so if you're trying to find something specific, scroll through all the questions to see what's there.

General Parasitology

Q-1:
I was wondering if parasites eat their hosts. If not, can you please tell me why?

A-1:
I'm not sure if I can answer your question but I'll give it a shot. I can't think of an example where a single parasite eats the entire host and obviously if it did then it would be a predator and not a parasite. Some parasites eat or destroy portions of a their hosts. You might say that Plasmodium species (the parasite that causes malaria) eats red blood cells but "eat" may not be the right word.

Maybe a better example would be parasitic wasps that lay their eggs inside caterpillars which then develop into larvae and eat the hosts fluids until they emerge through the skin. Check out this recent story.

Q-2:
My daughter is very ill from years of exposure to toxic molds in the school building she was employed in. We have been told that mold is a parasite. Is this correct? She is being treated by an environmental doctor presently and is detoxing but we are not seeing much improvement.

Could the missing link be that we should be addressing parasite issues?

A-2:
In the strictest sense of the word, molds could be considered parasites just as bacteria could. However, for historical reasons disciplines developed individually so that now bacteria are studied my bacteriologists or microbiologists and molds are studied by mycologists as well as toxicologists. Maybe a second, third, or even fourth opinion from another physician may help if you haven't tried already. If you are concerned about infectious agents then you might try an infectious disease doctor.

Q-3:
Would you say that the average American has parasites and, if so, what percentage has them?

A-3:
Excellent question! But I'm afraid it's also one of those that is hard to give a straight answer to. Much of it depends on your geography and socioeconomic status but even then many parasites such as pinworms are found almost everywhere. It's likely that most of us have had some type of parasite at one time or another and of course some may have long-lasting infections. Most of the numbers out there are estimates and doctors often prescribe drugs for common parasites like Giardia without verifying for sure that it's present so hard data is sometimes hard to come by.

I want to refer you to a recent article that is posted in the "Parasites in the News" section of the web site: "Worms and parasites afflict the poorest in U.S." The article gives some percentages for certain parasites such as roundworm that you might find interesting.

Yikes! Do I Have Parasites?

Q-1:
How do you know if you have parasites? I am feeling twitching all over my body, not only my muscles. I am terrified. What kind of doctor do I need to check with? I don't think I can get any help from my family doctor.

A-1:
Typically, a person goes to a doctor with some kind of symptoms and the doctor will ask some questions that will hopefully lead him to suspect a few causes that he may test for. For instance, if an intestinal parasite is suspected then he may ask for a stool sample or maybe not if your symptoms and recent travels suggest something typical, in which case he/ she may just go ahead and treat with a drug. Other symptoms may call for a blood test of some kind. It all depends on the symptoms and profile.

I suggest seeing a family doctor if you haven't already and if he/ she can't help then they may offer some suggestions like maybe seeing a dermatologist or even a psychiatrist. That's not an insinuation that you're crazy but there is a condition called delusory parasitosis whereby people think they are infected/ infested with something when they actually aren't that is probably more common than most people think. For some it can become a devastating condition. In any case, you should get a doctor to look you over and ask lots of questions!

Q-2:
I recently had a Metametrix DNA testing lab test which showed an unknown parasite (being treated with Paragard). I also showed low probiotics and yeast (treated and treating with probiotics 3x/day and a course of Diflucan).

In another set of lab work I showed as having low adrenal function and high antibodies to the cytomegalovirus. I have been ill (mailaise, weakness, trembling, headaches with nausea off and on, feeling physically off balance, and mentally not as sharp for 5 months.)

How much of this could be related to the parasite? Can the herbal formula Para-gard kill the parasite? Is there anything that will kill a parasite?

A-2:
Let me first say that I'm not an M.D. and if you're not feeling well then I'd say go talk to a doctor and voice your concerns if you haven't already. I also hope that you're consulting your doctor about the products that you're using. I am extremely skeptical of the "herbal" or "all-natural" remedies that are so prevelant on the internet. I'm not familiar with the DNA test that you took but I have read that the company has had a lawsuit from one costumer claiming misdiagnosis.

In any case it's kind of a backwards way to approach the problem. Telling you that you have a parasite but not specifying what it is smells fishy and isn't helpful. If your concerned about an intestinal parasite then ask your doctor if he/ she thinks that a stool sample would be helpful.

There are many standard tests they can perform and there are many standard drugs to treat parasitic infections but they are specific to what kind of parasite it is. For instance, a helminth will be treated with a anti-helminth drug and a protozoan infection will be treated with an appropriate drug. The good news is that they really work. Stay away from products that claim to rid you of "parasites" because "parasites" is a very broad category composed of some very different organisms. But please see a doctor and start narrowing it down. You may or may not have some parasites (a good many of us do) and It may or may not be causing you symptoms.

Q-3:
I was exposed to parasites from my mother's cats. The infection is very bad, and I am really suffering. I am taking the drug Alinia and have improved, but it has been very slow. I tried to find Thiabendazole, but I can not find it in the States. Can you suggest another medicine that is as effective as Thiabendazole for these migrating parasites?

A-3:
Something that I've been stressing with some of these questions that I get is that the word "parasite" is a very general term that covers some very different organisms. Some are protozoa, some are helminthes, and some are ectoparasites such as ticks, etc.- but the treatments must be appropriate for each. For instance, I assume that you don't think you got malaria or leishmania from your cat even though both are parasites.

First things first... Is your cat infected with something and if so what? Is it transmissible to humans? Alinia is used to treat cryptosporidium and giardia but nothing that would be "migrating" such as hookworms.

If you haven't already, I would strongly advise getting a proper diagnosis before taking a shotgun approach with medication.

Q-4:
I am in desperate need of help identifying and accurately treating my problems as my doctors are pretty useless. My problem is that I feel tired all the time, have headaches and can barely think straight, let alone think of the right word. I noticed things get worst when I eat - instantly and severely with sugars being the worst offenders along with dairy. I tried elimiating foods and got tested for coeliacs but nothing...

Then I tried an herbal parasite cleanse and I got headaches, rashes on my knuckles and passed a lot of slime and goo whilst I also noticed a presure in my nose. After using Grapefruit seed extract and oil of oregano I used to get a strong headaches and a feeling like I had a very tight headband on the inside of my head. Months of treatment has no left this as a tingling all over my head a feeling of pressure in my nose and down the sides of my face.

I also have verty strange stools with floaty white bits in and sometimes larger pieces. Whilst I also pass what seem to be slimey little worms from my nose, upto 30mm long and 0.5mm wide. They always seem to have a diamond shape on the end of their tale. Anti-bacterial medicines and herbs like goldenseal, doxycylcine, amoxicillin, GSE, oil of oregano all seem to work as do mebendazole, pipierazine phosphate and fluconazole. Unfortunately nothing is curing the problem and I still feel miles away from a symptom free life.

I would be very grateful if you can help me in any way.

A-4:
It doesn't sound like you have any parasitic infection. If you are actually producing worms from your nose then you can take a specimen to your doctor but the only worm likely to do that would be an ascaris and there would be no mistaking it for anything else. It's quite large and wormlike.

You are taking an awful lot of drugs and herbal supplements. I would recommend that you shouldn't be taking any prescription drugs unless they were actually prescribed to you by your doctor and you should inform him/ her of any other drugs or supplements that you are taking. That especially goes for the antibiotics which taken unneccasarily contribute to bacterial resistence. Take care.

Identification Related

Q-1:
Could you tell me something about Isospora belli, Cryptosporidium spp. ?  I need to examine a fecal smear and do not know how to do this.

A-1:
I’m not sure how much information you’re looking for so I’ll stick to diagnostics for now and you can follow-up with more questions if you like. The oocysts of both Cryptosporidium and Isospora belli can be reliably detected in feces using a modified acid-fast staining procedure. (DMSO)-modified acid-fast stain and Kinyoun acid-fast stain are two examples.

Cryptosporidium oocysts are spherical to oval, only 4-6 um in diameter, contain 1-6 dark granules and are difficult to see in a direct smear. In a modified acid-fast stain, the cysts stain a dark red with black granules against bluish background. In a Kinyoun acid-fast stain, the cysts stain pink to red against a blue or pale red background. If you’re using a (DMSO)-modified acid-fast procedure then the cysts look fuchsia against a pale green background (don’t confuse with yeast cells which will show up as a blue-green color). Basically, you’re looking for the pink to dark red things depending on the stain modification.

Oocysts of I. belli are 20-33um long by 10-19um wide. They are oval with a smooth, double-layered wall and tapered at the ends. When passed they are usually unsporulated and contain a single round sporoblast but if the sample is left out for awhile then it may form two sporoblasts (non-viable cysts won’t contain either). In acid-fast stain the sporoblast stains a dark red and the cyst wall doesn’t stain at all, although it does pick of precipitate of the stain around the wall making it stand out.

Q-2:
My daughter suspects that she has Onchocerca parasites. How can she test for it? Is there a special clinic or doctors in the US who specialize on testing for this parasite and treatment? She has heard that a skin test can reveal if this thing is present in the body.

A-2:
I would first ask you if you've been out of the country recently and where. The definitive diagnosis for suspected onchocerciasis is to take a small skin snip from the affected area and examine it for microfilariae. There's also a patch test involving diethylcarbamazine (DEC) that's used to elicit a local reaction if positive.

If you haven’t already, I would suggest getting checked out by a general physician or your usual doctor first. I don’t know what your symptoms are but Onchocerciasis occurs mostly in West Africa, northern South America, Latin America with some smaller foci in Yemen and Saudi Arabia. The main clinical features are dermatitis, eye lesions and nodules.

Q-3:
I live in Maui. I believe my home (and me) are infested with bird mites. There were 10-12 mynah bird nests on the house and the mites got to a pretty high level before I figured out what was going on (early February 2008). The nests and birds have since been removed. The roof is now sealed. I contacted a PCO and he confirmed I had bird mites. He did surface spraying and fogging 3 or 4 times. This only seems to help for a day or two. It is extremely disruptive in my life.

Do you have any contacts on Maui that might help? I could use a PCO, and a physician. Also, any web sites? I will spare no expense to be rid of these pests.

A-3:
I've heard and read of this problem but I don't have any personal experience with it. I also don't know of any contacts in Hawaii for you. I'm guessing you've already done this but I did find some websites that may help. One is a blog with posting from people who have had similar experiences. Perhaps that's a good place to get some answers.

http://pestcontrolinfo.blogspot.com/2008/06/bird-mites.html

http://abcnews.go.com/Health/Story?id=5017197&page=1

http://www.extension.umn.edu/yardandgarden/ygbriefs/e600mites-bird-rodent.html

Also, I'd suggest checking some of the Universities in your area for medical entomologists.

Miscellaneous

Q-1:
I'm trying to do some research on ingesting gastrointestinal worms by eating raw foods. The worms in particular are Ancylostoma caninum, Toxacaris canis/ leoonina, and Trichuris vulpis.

I came across a website that stated all of these can be in foods. However, I cannot find any specific examples.

A-1:
Are you talking about these worms being "on" raw vegetables or "inside" raw meat? It's conceivable that plants meant for human consumption may be contaminated with geohelminthes either from contact with contaminated soil or from contact with contaminated water that contain eggs. In fact, hookworms "quest" on blades of grass to infect their hosts.

I don't know off the top of my head any specific documentation where someone calculated the prevalance of or incidences of infections by this route but I'd bet that a pubmed or similar search would probably turn something up. In order to help you more, I'd need to know more about what kinds of foods your talking about and geographically where you're interested in.

Q-2:
I have been reading about how parasites can cause vitamin deficiencies in their hosts, and am particularly interested in the link between parasites and vitamin B12 depletion.

I have an autistic son being treated for parasites, and for years, we have been heavily supplementing B12 (for neurological reasons). Are we only feeding the parasites, by giving B12? Would it make more sense to withdraw the B12, treat for parasites, and then re-introduce B12?

A-2:
Diphyllobothrium latum is a fish tapeworm that's known to sometimes cause B12 deficiency in it's host. You didn't say what particular parasite your son is being treated for but if D. latum is suspected then a stool examination should be conducted. The eggs of this worm are easily recognizable using a fecal flotation method. Niclosamide or praziquantel are the treatment of choice and B12 is sometimes also given if anemia is present.

Here's a link that will give you more info on this parasite. http://www.emedicine.com/ped/TOPIC597.HTM

Remember, I'm not a MD so you will need to discuss all of this with your doctor first and confirm a diagnosis.

Q-3:
I am a 4th year student taking up a Bachelors of Science in Biology degree here in the Philippines. In one of our course requirements, we are expected to pass a thesis paper by the end of the year for us to graduate. In line with this, my thesis topic is about larval flukes present in snails. The complete title of my study is Larval flukes present in aquatic snails in Lapasan Cagayan de Oro (a place here in Mindanao, Philippines).

My study is focusing on the diseases that can be pass to humans from snails, specifically aquatic snails. I am curious about the other diseases that humans can get from snails aside from the most prevalent diseases Schistosomiasis. Schistosomiasis is generally known in some parts of the Philippines. However, the said disease is not found in the area of my study. Thus, I am more interested on diseases other than Schistosomiasis that can be passed to snails (as first intermediate hosts) to humans.

I am sending you this email to ask for some of your journals, reports, findings, or maybe important informations regarding the topic of my thesis paper. I would be pleased also if you would give me some information on the species of fluke to its specific snail (first intermediate host)?

A-4:
I'll try... The only thing that comes to mind is Paragonimus westermani, a trematode that occurs in many places including the Philippines. Metacercariae are ingested by eating raw or undercooked crabs. The worms hatch in the small intestine and adults mature in the lungs where they live in pairs in a cyst. Eggs are passed out in the feces or sputum and embryonate in fresh water. The miracidium hatches out and invades an intermediate snail host (Melania spp., Semisulcospira spp., and Thiara spp.). These develop into cercariae which then exit and seek out crustacean intermediate hosts.

A quick internet search should provide you with many papers written on this fascinating parasite.

More questions and answers will be organized and archived in this section as we get them...

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