Parasites

Everyone knows cuckoos are the freeloaders of the animal kingdom, laying their eggs in other birds' nests. But such slackers may not be total parasites.

Unlike some cuckoos, great spotted cuckoos may actually benefit the birds they parasitize, by fending off predators with a noxious secretion.

Computational biologist Clemente Aguilar uses computers to investigate the molecular mechanisms of disease.

When in doubt, ask a parasite expert.

Meet a parasite that can create its own mobile nursery for its young, a parasite that is thought to be the inspiration behind the chest-bursting xenomorph in the film Alien.

This fame might make it seem there is just one fungus that can create such a nightmare. But in fact there are many species of them, and zombifying ants is not their only speciality.

The parasite known as the human botfly or Dermatobia hominis goes on a fascinating journey from larvae to adult.

Pesky parasites can tell their own version of our history, including the idea that modern humans intermingled with Neanderthals and that humans may have first put on clothing before leaving Africa.

The hairworm is a long, thread-like parasite that sits bundled up inside the body of its host.

New video has captured the gory act of a tick bite sucking blood. The new video and imagery reveals exactly how ticks puncture the skin and anchor themselves to the surface.

Researchers have dissected the two deep-sea oarfish that washed ashore in southern California this month. So far, they found that one was teeming with worms and the other was about to have babies.

Paul Sikkel and reggae star Amlak Tafari discuss the recent controversy of naming a parasite after Bob Marley.

A mouse parasite known as Toxoplasma gondii causes mice to lose their fear of felines even after the infection is cleared, suggesting it may be acting in a previously unknown way.

Farmer ants can recruit parasites to battle for them, much like medieval cities sometimes kept expensive contingents of mercenary soldiers to ward off invaders, researchers say.

An outbreak of the intestinal illness cyclosporiasis has sickened more than 200 people in four states, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

A microorganism found in cat poo is more widespread than people thought. The parasite has been linked to problems such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and kids' trouble in school.

Researcher Paul Sikkel studies reef parasites and their impact on fish at the reef.

A fossil flea unearthed in China could shed light on why fleas evolved to become smaller over history

A neglected tropical disease bears similarities to HIV/AIDS, researchers argue.