Toxoplasmosis is an infection transmitted by a parasite, known as Toxoplasma gondii, that usually persists in the digestive system of cats. In United States, over 60 million people have been infected by this deadly parasite. However, in most cases, toxoplasmosis is not a major cause of concern if the affected individual is healthy. This is because treatment is not required as the person does not fall sick.

Pregnant woman infected with Toxoplasma gondii, for the first time, have a high probability of passing the infection to her baby. As a result, it is not uncommon for serious health complications to later develop in the baby. This could include brain damage or learning problems. In extreme cases, miscarriage has occurred as a result of becoming infected.

Transmission of Toxoplasmosis

Toxoplasmosis infection, is usually transmitted through cat feces. People who keep household pets often don’t wear rubber gloves, instead opt for using bare hands to clean the litter tray. This is a common entry point for Toxoplasma gondii. This microscopic organism may also be found in fresh vegetables and fruits. Contaminated soil that is used in gardening is also a source of toxoplasmosis. Drinking unpasteurized milk, especially the unpasteurized goat’s milk, can also cause this infection as it contains this parasite.

Symptoms of Toxoplasmosis

In most cases, people who are affected are unaware that they have this disease. However, flu-like symptoms appear in individuals with weak immune system. People with HIV/AIDS often have immune disorders. These people can contract toxoplasmosis anytime in their lifetime. Infected adults may show minimal symptoms that are listed below:

• Fatigue
• Sore throat
• Swollen lymph nodes
• Fever and/or Headache
• Muscle aches that can last for several weeks
• Poor coordination, blurred vision and seizures particularly observed in HIV infected patients
• Severe eye infections and an enlarged liver spleen are noticed in babies

Treatment for Toxoplasmosis

Toxoplasmosis can cause serious health problem in patients bearing an impaired immune system. Without treatment this parasitic infection can be fatal in these patients and can cause subtle abnormalities. Pyrimethamine is a commonly prescribed drug to treat this condition. A mixture of pyrimethamine and clindamycin (antibiotic), is highly effective. Other antibiotics often used in combination with this medication are spiramycin and sulfadiazine. Some patients are also given folinic acid supplementation, along with pyrimethamine.

An easy way to prevent this infection is to thoroughly wash vegetables, salads and fruits before consuming them. One must also wash hands properly with soap and water, after handling undercooked or raw meat. Always wear rubber gloves when changing your cat’s litter box, especially pregnant women. Eating unpasteurized products or drinking unpasteurized milk must be strictly avoided. Ensure that the meat you eat is cooked properly. Cured meats should not be consumed, as it can also cause parasitic infections. Any kind of gardening activities must be followed by cleaning hands, using an antiseptic soap.

This parasitic infection commonly affects the sheep. Individuals living near a farm should never handle lambing ewes (female sheep) or new born lambs.

Article written by: Nicks J

Do Some Intestinal Parasites Have Medical Advantages?

What Causes Ringworms in Humans?

Toxoplasma, The Most Dangerous Cat Parasite

Live Whipworm Squirming Around Inside Intestines

The theory presented in the study:

One hypothesis is that parasites keep asexual organisms from getting too plentiful. When an asexual creature reproduces, it makes clones—exact genetic copies of itself. Since each clone has the same genes, each has the same genetic vulnerabilities to parasites. If a parasite emerges that can exploit those vulnerabilities, it can wipe out the whole population. On the other hand, sexual offspring are genetically unique, often with different parasite vulnerabilities. So a parasite that can destroy some can’t necessarily destroy all. That, in theory, should help sexual populations maintain stability, while asexual populations face extinction at the hands of parasites.

Enter Potamopyrgus antipodarum, a snail common in fresh water lakes in New Zealand. What makes these snails interesting is that there are sexual and asexual versions. They provide scientists with an opportunity to compare the two versions side-by-side in nature.

“The rise and fall of these female-only lineages was surprisingly fast and consistent with the prediction of the parasite hypothesis for sex,” Jokela said. “These results suggest that sexual reproduction provides an evolutionary advantage in parasite rich environments.”

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Are you confused by this theory? Yeah, we are too. But if this theory does hold up, then it is just one more example as to how some parasites are beneficial to the human body. Of course, we all know that if you have parasites in your intestines, you want to get them out as soon as you possibly can.

Do Some Intestinal Parasites Have Medical Advantages?

What Causes Ringworms in Humans?

Toxoplasma, The Most Dangerous Cat Parasite

Live Whipworm Squirming Around Inside Intestines

This blood parasite survives by sucking the blood of the human host. Eventually, the human host will begin to experience malaria-like symptoms. It has the potential to be fatal in humans, as the parasite causes the red blood cells to breakdown from the inside.

Do Some Intestinal Parasites Have Medical Advantages?

What Causes Ringworms in Humans?

Toxoplasma, The Most Dangerous Cat Parasite

Live Whipworm Squirming Around Inside Intestines

As a result of the parasitic infection, the doctor was experiencing alot of negative health symptoms that were interfering with his everyday life. Threadworms are one parasite you don’t want to take lightly. Threadworms live inside the lining of the intestines of a human host, and can survive there for many years. You could experience many symptoms, but in worst case scenarios, threadworms can do serious damage to the human host, including major tissue damage, acute respiratory failure and/or death.

Treatment Options for Threadworms

If you think you are infected with threadworms, it would be wise to go see your doctor or a gastroentrologist immediately. They will most likely give you a prescription. If you are looking for an all-natural remedy for threadworms, you should try doing a parasite cleanse at home. There are many herbs that can help kill off intestinal worms. Be sure to do the proper research on all products and quality of herbs in them. Try to get organically-grown herbs if possible.

Do Some Intestinal Parasites Have Medical Advantages?

What Causes Ringworms in Humans?

Toxoplasma, The Most Dangerous Cat Parasite

Live Whipworm Squirming Around Inside Intestines

Intestinal worms are more common in the average person and will cause a wide variety of negative symptoms, but parasites in your brain poses the most severe and immedieate health concern.

If you are experiencing any problems with your brain. It is imperative that you see a doctor or specialist immediately. Parasites in your brain are not very common, but if you do have them, you need to get rid of them as soon as possible. There are many other serious conditions that can affect your brain. Brain Anuerysms are very common and affect many Americans every year.

Do Some Intestinal Parasites Have Medical Advantages?

What Causes Ringworms in Humans?

Toxoplasma, The Most Dangerous Cat Parasite

Live Whipworm Squirming Around Inside Intestines

Of all the components of the human anatomy, by far the most delicate and susceptible to upset is the digestive tract. Giardiasis is one such ailment that affects the digestive tract. The ailment is triggered by the presence and action of the microscopic Giardia Lamblia parasite.

The Giardia Lamblia parasite lodges within the delicate lining of the small intestine in humans. From here, this intestinal parasite damages the capacity of the body to absorb and process fats and carbohydrates that come from the digested food. Giardia Lamblia is also the main causes for diarrhea. It is easily transmitted and ingested via the consumption of contaminated water. This parasite is able to survive the regular application of chlorine used to purify water. It is also observed to be able to exist for more than 2 months in very cold water!

Research on the Giardia Lamblia Parasite

Clinical research reveals that it does not take more than ten giardia lamblia parasites present in a glass of drinking water to cause severe Giardiasis. Young children, with delicate immunity and tolerance to the parasites are more likely to fall victim to Giardiasis. This observation has backed the observation that our bodies gradually develop a kind of immunity to the Giardia Lamblia parasite as we grow older. It is estimated that the number of affected people is higher in developing countries. This parasitic infection results in being the major cause of epidemic childhood diarrhea observed in these countries. Unfortunately, the infection does not manifest in more than two thirds of the people whose intestines are home to the Giardia Lamblia parasite!

Giardiasis Symptoms

When and as the severity of the infection does manifest, it surfaces in the form of diarrhea, but without blood or mucus. The diarrhea is observed to contain much of the unabsorbed fats due to the infected body’s inability to absorb the fats from the diet. The other commonly observed symptoms include abdominal cramps, intestinal gas and a subsequently enlarged belly, loss of appetite, nausea and fever.

The symptoms of Giardiasis could be observed for a time frame of 5 to 7 days or even longer, depending on the extent of the infection. In severe cases, especially in children; the child may lose a considerable amount of weight. Many a times, after the acute symptoms settle in, the infection takes the form of a chronic phase, which is more prolonged. Of course, all symptoms of parasites will differ from person to person.

Preventing & Treating Giardiasis

There are certain measures that can be adopted at the home level, to eradicate the possible exposure to Giardiasis caused by the Giardia Lamblia parasite. You should inculcate the habit of drinking water only from water resources that are approved by the local health authorities as ‘safe’. In event of camping or hiking, you should ideally carry along your own drinking water.

source

The consumption of raw fruits and vegetables should be only after washing them thoroughly before you eat them. It is essential to wash your hands well before cook, serving and ensure that the rest of the family does the same, prior to eating. In event of someone in the family being treated for Giardiasis, you should wash your hands often as you care for him or her. It is very important to have the self built water resource, like a well, certified by the authorities, on a regular basis.

It has been observed that people and animals infected by the Giardia Lamblia parasite, can excrete the parasite in their stool, which in turn can contaminate public water supplies. Uncooked food ingredients rinsed in contaminated water are also potent carriers of the parasite. Doctors confirm the infection through the diagnosis of Giardiasis via the presence of the parasites in an infected person’s stool. Several samples may be needed by the test centers, before the parasites are detected.

The diagnosis can also be done by observing the lining of the small intestine through endoscopy. The samples from inside the intestine are then sent to a laboratory. Giardiasis is treated with prescription medicines that kill the parasites. The treatment takes anything between 5 and 7 days. The prescribed medication should be taken as per the scheduled doses set by the doctor. It includes the intake of plenty of fluids, but not caffeinated beverages. There are drugs that could be administered for the cramps.

article written by: Gaynor Borade

Do Some Intestinal Parasites Have Medical Advantages?

What Causes Ringworms in Humans?

Toxoplasma, The Most Dangerous Cat Parasite

Live Whipworm Squirming Around Inside Intestines

As mentioned in previous posts, hookworms in humans do not bear any prominent symptoms and due to this reason about 70% of people may suffer from the infection without having a single clue about it.

The infection of hookworms in humans occur in two ways; one through the skin and the other through dogs. The disease caused by hookworms in humans mostly occur in warm, humid climates – meaning, these intestinal parasites cannot survive in climates other than tropical or sub tropical. More on intestinal parasites in humans.

Hookworms are attributed as blood suckers as they suck blood from the host’s intestinal walls and damage the mucosa. It has been known that an adult hookworm sucks about 0.1mL of blood everyday. So you can estimate the amount of blood loss which can be caused by an infestation of 1500 hookworms – 150mL per day! The ill effect which follows is anemia, secondary to loss of iron (and protein) in the gut. Hookworm infection is more severe in children, as it might cause growth retardation. So as soon as a parasite infection is suspected the wisest thing would be to initiate the treatment immediately.

Symptoms of Hookworms in Humans

There are no specific signs of hookworms in humans, particularly at the start of the infection. However, people who suffer from long-term infection tend to be thin, tired and weak. Anemia may be associated with the symptom which occur due to heavy infestation of these intestinal parasites.

Probable symptoms of an infection might occur in an event where a person has been affected by a large number of larvae include itchy rash, cough, fever, abdominal discomfort and vague abdominal pain, increased gas production, bloody sputum, loss of appetite, nausea and vomiting. In some cases, coughing, wheezing, diarrhea, pallor, fatigue, black stools, malaise, eggs and blood in the stool might also show up as some of the symptoms of hookworms in humans.

Treatment for Hookworms in Humans

Local cryotherapy is usually administered when the parasite is till under the skin. Medicines such as medendazole or albendazole are recommended for the treatment as they help in killing the adult worms. Pyrantel pamoate is another medicine which can be used by both humans as well as dogs, however, the dosages vary.

It is advisable to get proper information about the adequate amount of dosages required for both adults and children from a chemist or most preferably from a doctor. However, studies have revealed that a moderately small number of hookworms in humans do not raise any concern, provided there is enough iron in the diet. Problems occur when these parasites in the human body grow rapidly and increase in numbers.

As hookworms affect people in tropical and subtropical regions, it is a good practice for the natives to wear shoes when they go out of their homes. This is because, majority of people are affected by the larva of these worms when an unsuspecting person or animal walks on them. These parasites then make their way from the foot to the intestines.

Because hookworms are a common parasite in dogs, it is also wise to do regular de-worming of your pet dogs (if you have any). Although, worms in dogs do not reach its maturity as in humans, but they cause nasty rash. So these are some of the prevention methods that should be followed in order to minimize the chances of infection by hookworms in humans. As mentioned, staying healthy and including sufficient iron content in your diet also keeps a check on the growth of the worms in humans and helps curb any infections.

article written by: Rajib Singha

Do Some Intestinal Parasites Have Medical Advantages?

What Causes Ringworms in Humans?

Toxoplasma, The Most Dangerous Cat Parasite

Live Whipworm Squirming Around Inside Intestines

As we’ve discussed in previous articles, intestinal parasites are something you don’t want to have. They can have a negative effect on your health and be the source for a wide variety of symptoms.

There are many ways to flush out parasites that may be affecting your health. Just be sure to do the proper research into cleansing methods. If you think you may have an intestinal parasite, be sure to check out this list of parasite symptoms.

In this video, the doc discusses two products that he would recommend for treating ringworms. These two products are Mycozil and Paratrex. Both products are made from organic ingredients, that are all designed to help kill off these types of parasites and fungus that may be inside your body.

Besides from the two products mentioned above, he also says that colloidal silver, oregano oil and probiotics may also help treat ringworms. These are all great options, especially the oregano oil. But be sure to do your research on the quality of some of these supplements. There is alot of cheaply made products floating around. It’s always best to get organically-grown herbs if you can.

According to parasitologists, the wrong episode of history has been blamed all along for contributing towards tapeworm infection in humans. For several decades, the assumption by most scientists has been that the human tapeworm was picked up by our species when they domesticated pigs and cattle, about 10,000 years back.

However, new scientific investigations of the family tree of the tapeworm reveal that the association between humans and tapeworms goes much further back in time. The researchers say that the nearest relatives of the human tapeworm spend their early part of their lives in grazing animals and the latter part of their lives, when they reach adulthood, in various African carnivores.

Hence, according to the researchers, the ancestors of the human species first got infected by tapeworms when they began consuming more of the worm-infested meat as hyenas and big cats did. They go on further to say that these studies are the first to connect human tapeworm infestations with increased scavenging of meat and hunting by human beings.

In fact, scientists have found enough genetic proof to make an estimation of precisely when the Taenia asiatica and Taenia saginata bifurcated from a common ancestor. From that evidence they deduce that the human species and the tapeworm association goes as far as 1.7 million years to 170,000 years back, long before livestock was domesticated by humans.

Physical Characteristics & Types of Tapeworms

Coming to today, intestinal parasite infection by human tapeworms is becoming more common in the US. Tapeworms are a type of intestinal parasites that need a host, e.g. humans, to be able to continue their life cycle. Tapeworms belong to a family of parasites known as Cestoda. There are several varieties of human tapeworms such as: Taenia solium, Taenia saginata, Diphyllobothrium latum, Echinococcus granulosus, and the dwarf tapeworm, Hymenolepsis nana.

The Taenia saginata, also known as the beef tapeworm, is the most common type of tapeworm in North America; the Taenia solium, or the pork tapeworm, infects millions in Latin America; and the Diphyllobothrium latum, or the fish tapeworm, along with the pork tapeworm, are the types that are prevalent in Asia.

These human parasites occur in various sizes ranging from 6 inches to up to 26 feet long. Occurring as ribbon-like and flat creatures, their body is divided into three parts: the head, the neck, and segments of the body known as proglottids.

The head of the tapeworm contains hooks with which it attaches itself to the walls of the intestines. This harmful organism can survive and form a new tapeworm as long as the head stays attached to the mucosa of the intestinal wall. The proglottids have eggs, which can detach themselves and travel through the body.

Devoid of intestinal tracts, tapeworms absorb partly digested food through their skin from their host. Adult tapeworms infest the digestive tracts of a wide range of hosts like fish, cats, dogs, cows, pigs, and of course humans. Most types of tapeworms have both female and male reproductive organs, and hence can produce and fertilize their own eggs.

Life Cycle & the Spread of Tapeworms

Once reproduction occurs, the eggs develop swiftly into adventuresome embryos. They exit from the digestive system of the host via bowel movements and quickly seek the closest supply of water. Both humans and animals ingest newborn tapeworms regularly.

The embryos of the tapeworm are ingested either by direct contact with infected feces, or by drinking contaminated water, or by eating the flesh of animals infected with tapeworm. For humans who have tapeworm infection, the parasite is the most dangerous when it is at the embryo stage, because an insidious infection called cysticercosis can develop.

According to estimates, about 50 million people in the world are affected by cycticercosis, with it going unnoticed by most. The cysts that form are usually only revealed on an autopsy being performed. In a small number of cases, the central nervous system is infected by tapeworms, causing neurocysticercosis, a potentially deadly condition.

Once the undeveloped tapeworm infects a host, it does not develop into a fully grown tapeworm. It drills through the abdominal lining of the host and gets into the blood stream. Arteries and veins become its highways through which the tapeworm travels to all the major muscles and organs.

Once the undeveloped tapeworm finds a home, e.g. the liver or any large muscle, it forms a fluid sac, called a cyst, into which it encloses itself. The embryo does not leave this sac until the flesh is eaten by some other animal. In fact, this is one the main ways people get infected by tapeworms.

Human Tapeworm Symptoms and Diagnosis

If you have a tapeworm or some other stomach parasite, chances are that you won’t even be aware of it. Even if you do experience the symptoms of parasites, they will hardly be noticeable, and will most probably be misdiagnosed, being attributed to common ailments like upset stomach, irritable bowel syndrome, or even stress. As a matter of fact, most people only notice they have tapeworm when they see the bodies of the headless worm in their stool.

When you read through this list of tapeworm symptoms, it will become clear why the symptoms of tapeworm infestation are misdiagnosed so often. Hence, you will have to be your best advocate for correct diagnosis as well as treatment. Some of the signs of human tapeworm infection are: constipation, diarrhea, discomfort in the abdomen, and/or segments of tapeworm in the feces or clothes.

If you or your doctor suspect that you have tapeworm symptoms, an antibody test will be able to diagnose the infection. If there are neurological symptoms, an MRI, or magnetic resonance imaging, can be used to locate the cysts. Tapeworm infection is usually easy to treat in most people. Although some infections may last a long time, depending on the organ that is affected.

Treatment of Human Tapeworm Infection

There are various western and naturopathic medical treatments available that can get rid of tapeworms from the intestines. For example, various herbal combinations formulated in a parasite cleanse or following a colon cleansing program are often quite effective methods. Treatment via conventional drugs includes niclosamide or quinacrine hydrochloride. It requires two drugs, albendazole and prazinquantel, to treat the embryo of the tapeworm. These drugs usually have many side effects, hence must be taken under medical supervision.

Prevention of Intestinal Parasite Infection by Tapeworms

There are many ways of avoiding getting a tapeworm infection.

• It is advisable to avoid eating rare meat. Tapeworms are killed effectively by the intense heat of cooking.
• After using the washroom, ALWAYS wash your hands with soap and water. Not only will this help kill of parasitic eggs, but is a great way to avoid getting sick.
• Avoid drinking water from any source where there are chances of it being contaminated with these worms.

If you are careful about employing these simple and basic rules, you will not be among those millions who have to deal with the unpleasant symptoms associated with tapeworms.

Do Some Intestinal Parasites Have Medical Advantages?

What Causes Ringworms in Humans?

Toxoplasma, The Most Dangerous Cat Parasite

Live Whipworm Squirming Around Inside Intestines