Parasites

They’re small, sneaky, and likely to make you sick. From viruses, to bacteria, to pesky protozoa, here are the latest findings on the parasites that live among (and on, and in) the creatures of the Earth.

Related Topics: Insects, Invasive Species

Latest Updates

An image of the pork tapeworm <em>Taenia solium</em>.

Woman Had a Huge Tapeworm 'Egg' Encased in Her Brain. Why She's Super Happy About It.

By Rachael Rettner published

When is it a huge relief to hear you have a parasite lurking in your brain? When it's not a cancerous brain tumor.

Three people were recently confirmed to contract rat lungworm disease after being infected with parasites known as rat lungworms (<em>Angiostrongylus cantonensis</em>).

Three Cases of Brain-Infecting Parasite Recently Confirmed in Hawaii

By Yasemin Saplakoglu published

Last December, a tourist in Hawaii ate a slug on a dare — not realizing, of course, a wiggly brain-loving parasite was along for the ride.

<em>Demodex</em> mites burrow face-first inside the pores at the bottom of your hair follicles. Shown here, a scanning electron micrograph of such mites protruding from a dissected human hair follicle.

'Face Mites' Live in Your Pores, Eat Your Grease and Mate on Your Face While You Sleep

By Brandon Specktor published

Meet the ubiquitous "face mites" that live in your pores, eat your grease and have sex on your face while you sleep.

Sand fleas are parasites that burrow into people's skin, causing intense pain, itching and inflammation. A new report describes five cases of "extreme" sand flea infections. Above, an image showing embedded sand fleas on the back of a patient's hand.

How Sand Fleas Cause 'Extreme' Infections

By Rachael Rettner published

A new report describes five cases of "extreme" sand flea infections in Colombia, showing that life-threatening illnesses with this parasite still occur.

So Many Ticks Were Feasting on This Unlucky Python, They Looked Like Living Scales

By Mindy Weisberger last updated

Some 511 bloodsucking ticks were removed from this snake.

10 Strangest Medical Cases of 2018

By Rachael Rettner published

Here are the most intriguing medical cases made headlines in 2018

Man Dies 8 Years After Swallowing a Live Slug That Left Him Paralyzed

By Mindy Weisberger published

Swallowing a live garden slug led to a serious parasitic infection for an Australian teen.

A number of dogs working for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) have been infected with a parasite that can lead to heart problems. Above, researchers place a 24-hour heart monitor on a DHS dog to check for heart problems.

US Homeland Security Dogs Face a Growing Occupational Risk: A Nasty Parasite

By Rachael Rettner published

A surprising number of dogs working for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security are infected with this parasite, according to a new study.

Medieval Germans Riddled with Tapeworms

By Mindy Weisberger published

Archaeologists peek into the past by prodding preserved human poo.

Bee That Was Looking for Love Ends Up Wearing a 'Vest' of Parasitic Beetle Larvae

By Mindy Weisberger published

Want to see a photo of a bee parasitized by dozens of beetle larvae? Wait, where are you going?

Ancient 'Alien' Wasp Hijacked Fly Pupae, Ate the Flies Inside

By Mindy Weisberger published

Fossil fly pupae contain evidence of a fascinating —and deadly — story of insect parasitism in the ancient world.

A painting called "The Host," by contemporary artist Ben Taylor, is based on Taylor's experience with a parasitic worm that he found in his eye.

An Artist Discovered a Parasitic Worm in His Eye, Which He Said 'Guided' His Work

By Rachael Rettner published

A striking painting called "The Host" is based on the artist's personal experience with a parasitic worm that he discovered in his eye.

An ocean wave over sand.

Teen Gets Hookworm from Florida Beach Sand

By Rachael Rettner published

A Tennessee teen's summer trip to Florida turned nightmarish after he contracted hookworms from playing in sand at the beach.

salmon, fillet, fish

Salmon with a Side of Squirm: Woman Finds Wriggling Worm in Fillet

By Sara G. Miller published

It's not the type of garnish you want on your salmon: a translucent, wriggling worm.

A newly discovered wasp from the Amazon.

Amazon Wasp with Enormous Stinger May Just Haunt Your Nightmares

By Kimberly Hickok published

She may be small, but check out that stinger!

The parasite <em>Cyclospora</em> can cause intestinal illness. Above, an image taken with a microscope showing <em>Cyclospora</em> eggs (red) in a stool sample.

Dozens Fall Ill in Texas Outbreak: What Is Cyclospora?

By Rachael Rettner published

So far, Texas health officials have identified 56 illnesses due to Cyclospora since May.

An ocean wave over sand.

Beachgoers Beware? 5 Pathogens That Lurk In Sand

By Rachael Rettner published

Beach sand can harbor a number of bacteria, parasites and fungi that are linked with diseases.

A woman in Russia found a lump on her face that turned out to be a parasitic worm crawling under her skin. The lump first appeared under the woman's eye (Panel A), and then moved above her eye (Panel B), before migrating to her upper lip (Panel C). Doctor

A Weird Lump on a Woman's Face Turned Out to Be a Worm Crawling Under Her Skin

By Rachael Rettner published

When a woman in Russia noticed a small lump under her left eye, she snapped a selfie. Then, the lump moved.

See How Brain Worms Turn Ants into the Walking Dead

By Mindy Weisberger published

Can you wrap your mind around the idea of an ant brain with a worm in it?

This parasitic ant, called <i>Megalomyrmex symmetochus</i>, crashes colonies of fungus-farming ants (<i>Sericomyrmex amabilis</i>), eating their crops and killing their babies.

Baby-Eating Ants Use Espionage, Chemical Warfare To Score Free Rent

By Brandon Specktor published

Worst. Roommates. Ever.