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.
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