When it comes to searching for blogs related to clinical parasites and parasitology, most of the entries that pop up in the slew of Google results are health or biology related blogs. Of course, a general search of parasites can yield the ever so popular topic of “Blogging Parasites,” online vultures that prey upon other authors’ hard work and research without yielding the proper credit. Compared to blogs concerning food, fashion, and further fun topics, the topic of parasites remains unpopular in the larger blogosphere.
When you finally find that Google search entry you’ve been waiting for, the blog usually ends up very dry and clinical when discussing the fascinating body snatchers. (In a world lacking in discussion regarding parasites, anything is welcome, but a new spin on the topic unlike a Wikipedia, CDC, or WHO entry would be nice. To be honest, I probably am guilty of this crime in a few of my posts.)
That’s where Bobbi Pritt comes in with her blog, Creepy Dreadful Wonderful Parasites. Rather than come in with another clinical evaluation of various parasites, she turns it into an online quiz show.
Okay, so it’s not a standard blog. The entries aren’t usually long winded explanations or even personal accounts. Instead, Pritt shows shots of microscopic slides, pictures of parasitic specimens, or the occasional Youtube video with a short explanation. Then she flips the usual parasite blogging practice upside down and asks her readers to identify the invader in question. In a week, the answer to the previous week’s case will be posted along with a new case. Ever the educator, Pritt will annotate the parasitic images for key features of the species and things to look for. Even medical specialists can learn something from Pritt’s weekly identification challenges.
With access to such a slew of information, it should come as no surprise that Pritt works as a director in a Clinical Parasitology lab with a Masters in Medical Parasitology from none other than the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. (For those of you who aren’t so keen on parasites and the study of them, I’d consider the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine one of the premier sites of studying parasitology. It’d definitely be my first choice in getting a Masters in the subject.) It’s no wonder she’s been posting parasite cases since late 2007!
For example, let’s first take a look at an organism post here. Pritt gives little information, but as an alternative gives some up close and personal shots of that handsome little bugger. In her answer post, here, she acknowledges every answer and identification differences between the answer (Lucilia sp.) and any wrong guesses, as well as noting specific features that any readers commented on. As a final salute, Pritt ends with a donated poem related to the organism.
In another weekly quiz entry, here, Pritt posts a donated case of microscope slides. Again, whatever information is available is given, this time the sample is from a colonoscopy from an older woman. Pritt posts the answer here with annotated features of the creature (Trichuris trichiura) in what to look for.
Dubbed the “Parasite Gal,” Pritt has no contest in lending her hand in educating her readers on parasites in a fun, and for most people, somewhat gross manner. (Yes, she has posted slides from stool samples and at least one from a baby’s diaper.) Even so, the readers appear to be familiar with parasites as many guess her parasitic puzzles correctly. Even if you’re warded off by the challenges of identifying these creatures, going through Pritt’s past entries can be very enlightening. Maybe not so much if you’re squeamish.
Friday, October 31, 2014
Sunday, October 19, 2014
Parasites and Mental Health: Toxoplasmosis and Neurocysticercosis
It seems almost like an oxymoron. Parasites are known as infectious agents, and mental health is traditionally seen as a separate entity from physical health. When parasites end up in the brain, however, mental health can be affected. An idea known as infectious mental illness describes the role of viral, bacterial, and parasitic infections in affecting one’s mental health. Not the typical idea behind the practice of mental health.
It should be noted that while there is a trio notorious for infecting the brain, the final one, Naegleria fowleri (the brain-eating amoeba), rarely leaves survivors and kills quickly, enough so that mental health of such patients is difficult to study. Thus we’ll save that one for a rainy day.
The first, Toxoplasma gondii, is a protozoan parasite that is normally found in cats. The parasite is excreted through the faeces, where animals and humans come into contact and can be infected with the parasite. While the parasite is widespread with little signs of infection, there has been plenty of talk of the protozoan causing changes in mental status. Studies on mice infected with Toxoplasma have found that those mice lose their fear of cats and will actually run towards cats! The reason for this is because the best chance for the parasite to grow and reproduce is inside a cat’s digestive tract, and all the better for the mouse to be eaten for the parasite.
Of course, when such mental changes happen in other mammals when infected, scientists like to look at humans. After all, we are animals too. Despite the fact we like to believe that we are better than drugs, medications, and little parasites, we are all susceptible to them. It’s sometimes hard to swallow that at our basic level, neurotransmitters are what controls our personalities and emotions. That what we feel and who we are is simply a level of neurotransmitters and hormones. And that’s what Toxoplasma affects. This little protozoan affects the production of dopamine, the so-called happiness hormone.
Too much “happiness” cannot be a bad thing, right? Wrong. We balance between too much dopamine causing schizophrenia and too little causing Parkinson’s Disease. In people infected with Toxoplasma, there was found to be a direct “statistical link” between infection and schizophrenia [1]. In addition, toxoplasmosis in women leads to an increase of a chance in having a baby with schizophrenia. Toxoplasma produces the enzyme precursor to the dopamine, tyrosine hydroxylase, and it would make sense that this increase in dopamine precursor could cause schizophrenia.
It's not just the possible link between the protozoan and schizophrenia. Studies have found that those infected with Toxoplasma exhibit more risky behavior, and thus are more likely to be involved with car accidents [2]. Furthermore, a new study done in Denmark describes the association between toxoplasmosis and suicide in women. Women with the Toxoplasma parasite were more likely to attempt suicide and more likely to do so via violent methods (ie. with a gun or knife) [3].
The seemingly harmless parasite is subtle in its changes in our mind and body. Most people do not show symptoms when infected, and it's only when we become immunocompromised that Toxoplasma causes apparent problems. Toxoplasmosis is not as harmless as it seems when it affects our personalities and has a potential to cause mental illness.
The second, Taenia solium, is actually a pig tapeworm that infects our intestines. Normally, the parasite remains in the gut, but it can migrate to the muscles, spinal cord, and brain. The problem arises when the worms die, and the immune system reacts to the carcasses, forming calcified cysts around the dead worms. When the cysts are in the muscles, it is merely called cysticercosis and is generally asymptomatic. The problem arises when these worms die in the spinal cord or brain, when the cysticercosis becomes neurocysticercosis.
Neurocysticercosis causes everything from seizures to confusion to excruciating headaches. The problem comes when diagnosing neurocysticercosis because the symptoms can be similar to meningitis and in California, it isn't considered a health concern. In fact, the opposite is true. Tapeworms are on the rise in the US (or at least California) due to plenty of immigrants coming in from various, many times developing, countries. The problem is that the cysts can only be removed surgically, a very costly and dangerous procedure. The only way to prevent neurocysticercosis is to not be infected with tapeworms and to avoid those infected. Problem is... you don't know who is infected.
The issues don't end there. People with neurocysticercosis also have a possibility to have an altered mental status, including depression or psychosis. It's not surprising, considering these cysts are in the brain and depending on what region they're in, what symptoms will manifest. For example, one patient with the disease lost feeling in her right leg, foot, and hand [4].
For more on neurocysticercosis from a patient's perspective, here is a blog from someone who was infected and the aftermath of his infection.
Both taxoplasmosis and neurocysticercosis are conditions where parasites turn on our most beloved organ, our brain. In one case, the parasite dies and it's our immune system trying to isolate the foreign entity from native tissue that causes the issue. Because of the location, mental health can be affected. In the other case, the parasite is made to alter personality in an attempt to return to its preferred environment, inside a cat. Although this usually works for mice and rats, in humans, the parasite is simply doing what it does best. To the detriment of our health.
The lesson to be learned here is that parasites don't just infect our bodies, but can affect how we feel and how we act. If a parasite takes hold inside you, you never know... It may just be calling the shots.
It should be noted that while there is a trio notorious for infecting the brain, the final one, Naegleria fowleri (the brain-eating amoeba), rarely leaves survivors and kills quickly, enough so that mental health of such patients is difficult to study. Thus we’ll save that one for a rainy day.
The first, Toxoplasma gondii, is a protozoan parasite that is normally found in cats. The parasite is excreted through the faeces, where animals and humans come into contact and can be infected with the parasite. While the parasite is widespread with little signs of infection, there has been plenty of talk of the protozoan causing changes in mental status. Studies on mice infected with Toxoplasma have found that those mice lose their fear of cats and will actually run towards cats! The reason for this is because the best chance for the parasite to grow and reproduce is inside a cat’s digestive tract, and all the better for the mouse to be eaten for the parasite.
Of course, when such mental changes happen in other mammals when infected, scientists like to look at humans. After all, we are animals too. Despite the fact we like to believe that we are better than drugs, medications, and little parasites, we are all susceptible to them. It’s sometimes hard to swallow that at our basic level, neurotransmitters are what controls our personalities and emotions. That what we feel and who we are is simply a level of neurotransmitters and hormones. And that’s what Toxoplasma affects. This little protozoan affects the production of dopamine, the so-called happiness hormone.
Too much “happiness” cannot be a bad thing, right? Wrong. We balance between too much dopamine causing schizophrenia and too little causing Parkinson’s Disease. In people infected with Toxoplasma, there was found to be a direct “statistical link” between infection and schizophrenia [1]. In addition, toxoplasmosis in women leads to an increase of a chance in having a baby with schizophrenia. Toxoplasma produces the enzyme precursor to the dopamine, tyrosine hydroxylase, and it would make sense that this increase in dopamine precursor could cause schizophrenia.
It's not just the possible link between the protozoan and schizophrenia. Studies have found that those infected with Toxoplasma exhibit more risky behavior, and thus are more likely to be involved with car accidents [2]. Furthermore, a new study done in Denmark describes the association between toxoplasmosis and suicide in women. Women with the Toxoplasma parasite were more likely to attempt suicide and more likely to do so via violent methods (ie. with a gun or knife) [3].
The seemingly harmless parasite is subtle in its changes in our mind and body. Most people do not show symptoms when infected, and it's only when we become immunocompromised that Toxoplasma causes apparent problems. Toxoplasmosis is not as harmless as it seems when it affects our personalities and has a potential to cause mental illness.
The second, Taenia solium, is actually a pig tapeworm that infects our intestines. Normally, the parasite remains in the gut, but it can migrate to the muscles, spinal cord, and brain. The problem arises when the worms die, and the immune system reacts to the carcasses, forming calcified cysts around the dead worms. When the cysts are in the muscles, it is merely called cysticercosis and is generally asymptomatic. The problem arises when these worms die in the spinal cord or brain, when the cysticercosis becomes neurocysticercosis.
Neurocysticercosis causes everything from seizures to confusion to excruciating headaches. The problem comes when diagnosing neurocysticercosis because the symptoms can be similar to meningitis and in California, it isn't considered a health concern. In fact, the opposite is true. Tapeworms are on the rise in the US (or at least California) due to plenty of immigrants coming in from various, many times developing, countries. The problem is that the cysts can only be removed surgically, a very costly and dangerous procedure. The only way to prevent neurocysticercosis is to not be infected with tapeworms and to avoid those infected. Problem is... you don't know who is infected.
The issues don't end there. People with neurocysticercosis also have a possibility to have an altered mental status, including depression or psychosis. It's not surprising, considering these cysts are in the brain and depending on what region they're in, what symptoms will manifest. For example, one patient with the disease lost feeling in her right leg, foot, and hand [4].
For more on neurocysticercosis from a patient's perspective, here is a blog from someone who was infected and the aftermath of his infection.
Both taxoplasmosis and neurocysticercosis are conditions where parasites turn on our most beloved organ, our brain. In one case, the parasite dies and it's our immune system trying to isolate the foreign entity from native tissue that causes the issue. Because of the location, mental health can be affected. In the other case, the parasite is made to alter personality in an attempt to return to its preferred environment, inside a cat. Although this usually works for mice and rats, in humans, the parasite is simply doing what it does best. To the detriment of our health.
The lesson to be learned here is that parasites don't just infect our bodies, but can affect how we feel and how we act. If a parasite takes hold inside you, you never know... It may just be calling the shots.
Friday, October 10, 2014
A Social Bookmarking Gem
Jörg Reiher (newjoerg) is a user on Diigo with a focus on social bookmarking pages related to science and medicine with a whopping 2023 public bookmarks. Science and medicine is vaguely related to parasites in a more clinical reason. Unfortunately, most searches about parasites will yield medical/clinical results and tend to lack the cultural and social perspective about them (for example, social parasitism which doesn't involve the clinical parasite at all). As such, Reiher only has tags on science, medicine, parasites, biology, genetics, the brain, psychology, and animals. Most of my blog stays within the realm of the biological/medical parasite so we have quite a bit in common although Reiher remains much more general in his or her interests.
Now, realistically speaking, 2023 bookmarks is a bit of a wide net to cover. So I'm going to focus on their "parasite" tag with a meager 23 bookmarks. Not to worry though! Even in this little basket, there are quite a few gems inside.
Let's start with a bit of an odd one. "Why is there sex? To fight the parasite army" is a peculiar article discussing experiments based on Caenorhabditis elegans, a hermaphroditic worm that can either reproduce asexually (ie. by itself) or sexually. Scientists noted that when the worms were infected with a bacterial parasite, the worms were more likely to reproduce sexually. This is because sexual reproduction increases genetic diversity (in order for natural selection to occur) and survivability. It's definitely an interesting piece when trying to figure out how to fight back against a parasite.
"Parasitic worms paint warning colours on their hosts using glowing bacteria" is another fascinating piece which involves describing the behavior of the Heterorhabditis group of worms when they infect caterpillars. The nematode worms have a symbiotic relationship with a type of glowing bacteria, Photorhabdus luminescens (the answer is in the name), which the worms release upon entrance in the host. The bacteria kill the caterpillar and "paint it" red, which is distasteful to birds which normally eat the caterpillars. This is able to help the nematodes and bacteria remain safe in the carcass, where both can eat and remain until it's time to infect another caterpillar.
Both articles describe interesting ways in which both host and parasite act in order to increase survivability and reproduce. While I've taken it upon myself so far to focus on the relationships between parasites and humans (a topic I find underwritten about, especially in the United States), it's important to remember there are many parasites out there that are made for animals. In some cases, parasites infect or are transferred into humans by mistake and it's unquestionably important to study how parasites act and influence behaviors of their hosts.
Reiher has been a member of Diigo since December 2010 and was last active in bookmarking publicly yesterday with occasional additions from less than a week to almost three. He or she has recently tagged some personal interests of mine including an article on diagnosis of a fatal brain disease and an article on ebola.
If you have an interests in anything regarding science or medicine, chances are Reiher has something for you.
Now, realistically speaking, 2023 bookmarks is a bit of a wide net to cover. So I'm going to focus on their "parasite" tag with a meager 23 bookmarks. Not to worry though! Even in this little basket, there are quite a few gems inside.
Let's start with a bit of an odd one. "Why is there sex? To fight the parasite army" is a peculiar article discussing experiments based on Caenorhabditis elegans, a hermaphroditic worm that can either reproduce asexually (ie. by itself) or sexually. Scientists noted that when the worms were infected with a bacterial parasite, the worms were more likely to reproduce sexually. This is because sexual reproduction increases genetic diversity (in order for natural selection to occur) and survivability. It's definitely an interesting piece when trying to figure out how to fight back against a parasite.
"Parasitic worms paint warning colours on their hosts using glowing bacteria" is another fascinating piece which involves describing the behavior of the Heterorhabditis group of worms when they infect caterpillars. The nematode worms have a symbiotic relationship with a type of glowing bacteria, Photorhabdus luminescens (the answer is in the name), which the worms release upon entrance in the host. The bacteria kill the caterpillar and "paint it" red, which is distasteful to birds which normally eat the caterpillars. This is able to help the nematodes and bacteria remain safe in the carcass, where both can eat and remain until it's time to infect another caterpillar.
Both articles describe interesting ways in which both host and parasite act in order to increase survivability and reproduce. While I've taken it upon myself so far to focus on the relationships between parasites and humans (a topic I find underwritten about, especially in the United States), it's important to remember there are many parasites out there that are made for animals. In some cases, parasites infect or are transferred into humans by mistake and it's unquestionably important to study how parasites act and influence behaviors of their hosts.
Reiher has been a member of Diigo since December 2010 and was last active in bookmarking publicly yesterday with occasional additions from less than a week to almost three. He or she has recently tagged some personal interests of mine including an article on diagnosis of a fatal brain disease and an article on ebola.
If you have an interests in anything regarding science or medicine, chances are Reiher has something for you.
Sunday, October 5, 2014
Social Parasitism: Parasites of the Third Kind
For the true undesired roommate, a person that comes to mind might be one that doesn’t clean up after themselves or almost always fails to pay the rent on time. Maybe it’s someone that always borrows your clothes without permission, or cash in your purse or wallet always seems to be misplaced.
While I was studying abroad in London, one of my fellow study abroad students relayed to me that silverware in the shared kitchen of her flat (apartment) always went missing. It turns out one of her flatmates was a silverware kleptomaniac. Now, I never met the supposed silverware thief, but this could be considered an example of social parasitism.
Social parasitism speaks for itself in its name. Rather than being a tapeworm, mite, protozoan, or amoeba, the parasite is another human (and in some cases, animal), and said being is doing more harm than good. Sometimes we describe a relationship with a 'friend' (and I do use that term loosely here) as parasitic. Maybe that friend only invites you out when you offer to pay. Or it’s one of ‘those’ friends that bully you into doing things for them. A social parasite can range from a friend to your family to your coworkers to just about any tier in your social circle.
But parasites of this ‘third kind’ are not just the people in your social circle. Actually, it can be argued, by certain political parties, that capitalists can be a form of parasites in modern society. James Connolly, an Irish socialist involved with the Easter Rising, describes the capitalist as such.
Connolly claims the capitalists, the rich, were leeches. They do nothing but suck from the working class. It should be pointed out that Connolly was a Marxist theorist and believed in syndicalism; therefore, he was on the extreme end on his feelings regarding capitalists as social parasites.
The concept of social parasitism has definitely evolved over time. Beginning in Greece circa 350 B.C., Alexis titled one of his plays Parasitos, where the term describes someone who attended the tables of the rich, receiving a meal with his flattery and willingness to perform services [1]. More recently, German propaganda from the World War II era describes Jews as parasites of humanity and possibly the world [2]. In 1961, the Soviet Union actually had a law banning social parasites (specifically people who refused to work but were able to work) [3]. Compare that to the post 2000's era, where there has been talk of dogs being a form of social parasites [4].
Social parasites take many forms and are partially based on social and political views of the time. Currently, on one side of the political spectrum, capitalists are the social parasites, and on the other, the lazy good-for-nothings are the parasitic entities. One can argue that in some form, we all are social parasites to someone. Take for example, a child. This child throws a tantrum when he doesn’t get the toy he wanted at the store, eats all his parents’ food, and essentially uses more resources than he gives back to society. This child, and arguably most children, would fit the social parasite definition. But would we consider children to be social parasites? Probably not. Then we’d have to come to terms that we all, at least at some point, were parasites.
It’s definitely not a boost to the self-esteem.
By definition, being called a parasite is unpleasant to say the least. While one can prevent from being a parasite in smaller social circles by trying to be useful, or at least not harmful, you cannot truly prevent being thought of as parasitic. Even then, one can argue that this is a case of one’s usefulness (or harmfulness) being in the eye of the beholder. After all, you can never please everyone.
On the other hand, in societies, as ideas and conceptions change over time, so will the idea of who is the parasite. It’s a social and political form of “Where’s Waldo?” except maybe one not to play with your friends.
While I was studying abroad in London, one of my fellow study abroad students relayed to me that silverware in the shared kitchen of her flat (apartment) always went missing. It turns out one of her flatmates was a silverware kleptomaniac. Now, I never met the supposed silverware thief, but this could be considered an example of social parasitism.
Social parasitism speaks for itself in its name. Rather than being a tapeworm, mite, protozoan, or amoeba, the parasite is another human (and in some cases, animal), and said being is doing more harm than good. Sometimes we describe a relationship with a 'friend' (and I do use that term loosely here) as parasitic. Maybe that friend only invites you out when you offer to pay. Or it’s one of ‘those’ friends that bully you into doing things for them. A social parasite can range from a friend to your family to your coworkers to just about any tier in your social circle.
But parasites of this ‘third kind’ are not just the people in your social circle. Actually, it can be argued, by certain political parties, that capitalists can be a form of parasites in modern society. James Connolly, an Irish socialist involved with the Easter Rising, describes the capitalist as such.
The capitalist, I say, is a parasite on industry; as useless in the present stage of our industrial development as any other parasite in the animal or vegetable world is to the life of the animal or vegetable upon which it feeds. The working class is the victim of this parasite – this human leech, and it is the duty and interest of the working class to use every means in its power to oust this parasite class from the position which enables it to thus prey upon the vitals of labour. [1]
Connolly claims the capitalists, the rich, were leeches. They do nothing but suck from the working class. It should be pointed out that Connolly was a Marxist theorist and believed in syndicalism; therefore, he was on the extreme end on his feelings regarding capitalists as social parasites.
The concept of social parasitism has definitely evolved over time. Beginning in Greece circa 350 B.C., Alexis titled one of his plays Parasitos, where the term describes someone who attended the tables of the rich, receiving a meal with his flattery and willingness to perform services [1]. More recently, German propaganda from the World War II era describes Jews as parasites of humanity and possibly the world [2]. In 1961, the Soviet Union actually had a law banning social parasites (specifically people who refused to work but were able to work) [3]. Compare that to the post 2000's era, where there has been talk of dogs being a form of social parasites [4].
Social parasites take many forms and are partially based on social and political views of the time. Currently, on one side of the political spectrum, capitalists are the social parasites, and on the other, the lazy good-for-nothings are the parasitic entities. One can argue that in some form, we all are social parasites to someone. Take for example, a child. This child throws a tantrum when he doesn’t get the toy he wanted at the store, eats all his parents’ food, and essentially uses more resources than he gives back to society. This child, and arguably most children, would fit the social parasite definition. But would we consider children to be social parasites? Probably not. Then we’d have to come to terms that we all, at least at some point, were parasites.
It’s definitely not a boost to the self-esteem.
By definition, being called a parasite is unpleasant to say the least. While one can prevent from being a parasite in smaller social circles by trying to be useful, or at least not harmful, you cannot truly prevent being thought of as parasitic. Even then, one can argue that this is a case of one’s usefulness (or harmfulness) being in the eye of the beholder. After all, you can never please everyone.
On the other hand, in societies, as ideas and conceptions change over time, so will the idea of who is the parasite. It’s a social and political form of “Where’s Waldo?” except maybe one not to play with your friends.
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