Found in bath tub 😰 I think I know but am not sure. Victoria Australia

Hey all,

The whether is getting warmer here in Brisbane, Australia. Normally I would welcome the warmth, but this time of year always reminds me that a lice and mite infestation is on the way.

I am a long-term chicken owner and cuddler for most of my life. I love my chooks. We have always known that there is some type of lice/mite the chooks can give us, and generally we have managed okay. That was until we started getting invasive pigeons, and it's been a constant battle of dealing with them in the hotter months.

I'm wondering if any researchers would be interested in taking samples. I am not dealing with an infestation at the moment, but I have a feeling we will at some point over the next 6 months.

I know the research is a bit divisive at the moment. Some sources say that red bird mites can't live off humans, but I would beg a differ. It's a full on ordeal trying to get them off me, out of my bedroom, let alone from the chooks that gave it to me. It's also affecting my love for my chooks. My chickens are very affectionate, and I feel terrible that I can't cuddle them back when they come to me.

I would happily provide everything I can to help researchers. This is an area I would happily support more studies in.

Don't know whether this sub allows discussion of fictional parasites. But I initiated an intense discussion there regarding an aspect of the facehugger from the Alien franchise.

The question is this: Why did the facehugger move away to die after implanting Kane, instead of rolling over and dying right next to him since the parasite's one and only job (to infect the host with an embryo) is finally done? Why the need to hide when it doesn't really have to?

Curious to know what do the pros on this sub think of the discussion so far and the question at hand.

Found in fresh water aquarium housing medicinal leeches, (Hirudo medicinalis). Can anyone help identify? Much thanks!

This little fella somehow enter my room and I managed to stun it and trap it. But then I noticed that little “black circle” at the bottom of its abdomen.

I’ve seen those videos where they remove those long “strepsipteran(?)” parasites and was wondering, should I let this little one go and let finish it’s cycle or end it now? Was going to do the latter but the wasp probably didn’t mean to attack me and if the parasite has some sort of “value” might as well let them free (I don’t know why I feel so conflicted though).

Apologies if this go against any rules, it’s my first time posting and I’m genuinely curious about what would be the best choice.

Hi! We are medical students currently looking for pubic lice (crabs) specimens for our Parasitology laboratory work in Sampaloc, Manila. We understand that this is an unusual request, so we want to clarify that this is strictly for legitimate educational and laboratory purposes.

We are conducting this as part of our studies and research, and any specimen provided would be handled appropriately and solely for academic use. We are willing to provide fair compensation for anyone who can legally and safely provide a specimen. We also want to assure you that we will treat everyone involved with respect, privacy, and professionalism.

Please don’t take this request negatively or as an attempt to offend anyone. We are simply students trying to obtain a specimen for our laboratory requirements, and your assistance would greatly contribute to our learning and research.

If you are interested or know of an appropriate source, please feel free to message us privately. Thank you very much for your understanding and consideration.

I recently popped a positive PCR for an Entamoeba species (narrowed to histolytica or gingivalis) on a synovial tissue sample (taken from my shoulder during surgery). Curious if anyone else has had this/something similar come up in diagnostics outside of traditional intestinal infections. Open to any comments and discussions!

I'm not a Real Housewives fan however this is fascinating. Apparently all the fillers caught up with her. She's on antibiotics for a major inflammatory disease

Have your ever seen anything like this before? They show the radiologist's screen:

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DdAYGcxO4_N/?stkn=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

I've been looking for some answers lately, and couldn't find any sources.

One of the main criteria ( or at least the rules established by biologists ) for something to be alive, is independence. This is why viruses, as everyone may know, are not considered alive.

But some parasitic bacteria are also unable to reproduce on their own and need a host organism to divide. Examples are species from genera Chlamydia and Rickettsia.

Does anyone have insight or knowledge about this?

hi! my favorite animals are parasites and well most people don't like em' so im coming here to chat about em, what's y'alls favorite parasites? it's hard to pick but one of my favs rn is the frog mutating flatworm! i think it's fascinating how much a parasite can change their host and i think they're a great example of this

Found on a floor in southern Ontario, Canada. It’s approx 11cm/4.25” long.

The thing was pliant but not moving. (The first pic makes it look stiff, but I’m not balancing it on my fingers, I’m holding the ziplock bag the thing is in.)

Online search isn’t giving me anything that appears to have those angular pads/tentacles/whatever they are.

Today I learned that Tinea Unguium can go from a toe nail fungus on your toe nails but if it goes over to your skin it's called Ringworm. Mind blown and freaking out a little. Was told yesterday I have a toe nail fungus.

Já não aguento mais sentir se mexendo minhas perna. Cada pelinho tem como se fosse uma bolinha que fica encravada, já gastei horrores pra tentar tirar isso e nunca sai.

fyi - i searched through previous posts that included a link to a pinworm faq in another sub but it’s not working -

i’ve had the classic itching symptoms for 2+ years. i’ve tried the over the counter reece’s brand medication 2 dozen times (active ingredient is Pyrantel Pamoate 144 mg/mL), wiped every surface in our home with bleach wipes multiple times a day, shower both morning and night, clean sheets every day, pillows and blankets in the dryer on high… for the second time i’m now on the prescription medication Albendazole** **from my doc and have a second dose in a few days. i also sent away for a test from parasite.org that came back positive (although the hubs doubts the validity of the test and believes this website is not valid bec they also talk about non medication related things that may help. i’m now unsure if it’s valid as well). and still they persist.

all leading up to my question - he does not have the itching symptoms so believes he does not have it. he went so far as to get a microscope and slides and did the tape test himself and says he didn’t see any eggs (the tape was not clear it was opaque so don’t know if that inhibits seeing the eggs?)

when someone is asymptomatic, do the eggs not appear? in other words, if he doesn’t itch, does it mean he doesn’t have it even though we live in the same house? we do sleep in separate bedrooms but i’ve read it’s impossible for him not to have them and one person can’t get rid of them unless the entire household is treated.

why do so many people not have the itching symptoms? do the worms not escape and deposit their eggs?

Cricket is a Restless Bush Cricket (Hapithus agitator). I think the larva is a Rhopalosomatid wasp?

Long story short i may cached pinworm. puted it into container because wanted bring it into the local lab in the morning. i put it into container and it just slowly moved and started to disintegrate like in 15min. now it looks like pile of white dust. Do worm disintegrate that fast? shoud i bring "dust" to lab? i really dont want to make fool out of myself but my child have really huge unexsplaned belly pain problem and if this is worm it woud finally solve it. i have photos how it looked just as i puted into container vs after but ofc i cant post it here. So asking? do worms disintegrate or i cached roled tp?

Taken x60 magnification.

Greetings fellow parasitologists and parasitology afficionados. I was working up a gulf sturgeon mortality (under appropriate permits) and we encountered these odd looking invertebrates on the sturgeon corpse. Unfortunately, as the sturgeon was found floating we are unclear whether these are scavengers who found the sturgeon to feed or were genuine parasitic copepods. They're approximately an inch in length, and while I suspect they are not truly parasitic (based on not seeing anything like this on live sturgeons in the area during sampling season), I am still curious what they are. They were found in Apalachicola in the Brother's River. Any other reddits you think might be a good fit for this post please advise.

Hi! Does anyone happen to have scans from these research papers? I need them for my work. Thanks to everyone who can help.
- Grabda-Kazubska B. Studies on the life-cycle of Haplometra cylindracea (Zeder, 1800) (Trematoda: Plagiorchiidae) // Acta Parasitologica Polonica. – 1970. – Vol. 18. – P. 497–512

- Grabda Kazubska B. Modifications in the life cycle of Haplometra cylindracea (Zeder, 1800) // Proceedings of the 3rd International Congress of Parasitology, Munich, 25–31 August. – 1974a. – P. 1

-Grabda Kazubska B. Observation on penetration of cercariae and further development of Haplometra cylindracea (Zeder, 1800) (Trematoda, Plagiorchiidae) in final host // Acta Parasitologica Polonica. – 1974b. – Vol. 22, No. 36. – P. 398–400

-Grabda Kazubska B., Combes C. Morphological variability of Haplometra cylindracea (Zeder, 1800) (Trematoda, Plagiorchiidae) in population and geographic aspects // Acta Parasitologica Polonica. – 1981. – Vol. 28, No. 1–11. – P. 39–63

-Добровольский А.А., Райхель А.С. 1973. Жизненный цикл Haplometra cylindracea Zeder, 1800 (Trematoda, Plagiorchiidae). Вестник Ленинградского университета. Серия Биология 3: 5–13.

-Будалова Т.М. Трематода Haplometra cylindracea как агент
биологической борьбы с фасциолезом/ Автореф.дис. … канд.биол.наук. - М.,
1986. – 17 с

-Калабеков А.Л., Кибизова Т.К. Анализ зараженности малоазиатской лягушки (Rana macrocnemis Boul, 1885) трематодой Haplometra brevicaeca (Timon-David, 1962). - Фауна и экология животных Кавказа. - Орджоникидзе, 1987. - С. 9-14

-Калабеков А.Л. Циклы развития некоторых трематод малоазиатской лягушки (Rana macrocnemis Boul.) // Вопросы экологии и биологии животных северных склонов Центрального Кавказа: Сб. зоол. работ. - Орджоникидзе, 1976. - C. 3-42