The discovery of a dozen parasitic worms in the eyes of a black bear has sent alarm bells ringing. Scientists fear that the tiny worms known for causing blindness can also affect humans in the near future.&nbsp;

The worms are linked to a zoonotic disease called "Thelaziosis", scientists wrote in a paper. The bear was killed in rural Pennsylvania in November last year. The researchers found the worms in its eyes and extracted DNA from them. The worms are less than two centimetres in length

The researchers say that this is the first time that the parasites have been found in a wild animal in the United States.&nbsp;

Caroline Sobotyk, the principal author of the study and an assistant professor of clinical parasitology at the University of Pennsylvania, said, "This does increase the risk for us humans to get this parasite as well and for our pets and other animals."

The worms have earlier been found in pets, but the discovery in a wild animal triggers fears that the parasite can spread across the country.&nbsp;

According to a new research paper published in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Emerging Infectious Diseases journal, there is a risk of "transmission to humans and domestic animals."

Kevin Niedringhaus, co-author of the study, says that it is unlikely to reach humans directly from wild animals.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/poisonous-nightmare-fireworms-with-prickly-bristles-are-invading-texas-beaches-754182">Poisonous fireworms with prickly bristles are invading Texas beaches. 'Your worst nightmare'</a>

"But wildlife could act as what we call a reservoir" from whom an indirect infection might come, he said. Kevin is an assistant professor of wildlife pathology at the University of Pennsylvania.

<h2>How does the infection spread?</h2>

According to the CDC, flies act as a carrier for the worms that transmit them to animals, including humans. The infected flies land near the eyes, feed on the tears and transmit the worms. Ulcers on the eyes are a common symptom and the worms can also cause blindness.

"Offspring of the worm is probably being collected by the fly, and then that's being carried over to another host, whether it's another animal or a human," Niedringhaus said.

Black bears are widespread in the US and scientists fear that this makes it easier for the parasite to spread. There are also chances that endangered and threatened species might also get infected.&nbsp;

In the US, the first case was identified in a Labrador retriever in 2018. More cases in pets soon followed. Later, a paper talked about worms in two cats and 11 dogs that had never left America.&nbsp;

According to an article from the academic journal Trends in Parasitology, the parasite was first globally identified in Southeast Asia in the early 90s and afterwards, cases started to emerge in Europe.

The discovery of a dozen parasitic worms in the eyes of a black bear has sent alarm bells ringing. Scientists fear that the tiny worms known for causing blindness can also affect humans in the near future.

The discovery of a dozen parasitic worms in the eyes of a black bear has sent alarm bells ringing. Scientists fear that the tiny worms known for causing blindness can also affect humans in the near future. The worms are linked to a zoonotic disease called "Thelaziosis", scientists wrote in a paper. The bear was killed in rural Pennsylvania in November last year. The researchers found the worms in its eyes and extracted DNA from them. The worms are less than two centimetres in length The researchers say that this is the first time that the parasites have been found in a wild animal in the United States. Caroline Sobotyk, the principal author of the study and an assistant professor of clinical parasitology at the University of Pennsylvania, said, "This does increase the risk for us humans to get this parasite as well and for our pets and other animals." The worms have earlier been found in pets, but the discovery in a wild animal triggers fears that the parasite can spread across the country. According to a new research paper published in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Emerging Infectious Diseases journal, there is a risk of "transmission to humans and domestic animals." Kevin Niedringhaus, co-author of the study, says that it is unlikely to reach humans directly from wild animals. Also Read: Poisonous fireworms with prickly bristles are invading Texas beaches. 'Your worst nightmare' "But wildlife could act as what we call a reservoir" from whom an indirect infection might come, he said. Kevin is an assistant professor of wildlife pathology at the University of Pennsylvania. How does the infection spread? According to the CDC, flies act as a carrier for the worms that transmit them to animals, including humans. The infected flies land near the eyes, feed on the tears and transmit the worms. Ulcers on the eyes are a common symptom and the worms can also cause blindness. "Offspring of the worm is probably being collected by the fly, and then that's being carried over to another host, whether it's another animal or a human," Niedringhaus said. Black bears are widespread in the US and scientists fear that this makes it easier for the parasite to spread. There are also chances that endangered and threatened species might also get infected. In the US, the first case was identified in a Labrador retriever in 2018. More cases in pets soon followed. Later, a paper talked about worms in two cats and 11 dogs that had never left America. According to an article from the academic journal Trends in Parasitology, the parasite was first globally identified in Southeast Asia in the early 90s and afterwards, cases started to emerge in Europe.

Worms that live in eyes and are transmitted by flies can reach humans, experts fear

A new study has revealed that the mind-altering parasite, identified as Toxoplasma gondii, can make infected people more attractive look-wise. Previously, several studies established that the mentioned parasite can infect any mammal or bird.

A new study has revealed that the mind-altering parasite, identified as Toxoplasma gondii, can make infected people more attractive look-wise. Previously, several studies established that the mentioned parasite can infect any mammal or bird. Experts often term Toxoplasma gondii as the most successful parasite in the world today. It has been understood that once infected, a person apparently carries Toxoplasma for life and a range of studies indicates that it may alter human behaviour in one way or another. The parasite spreads through exposure to infected cat faeces. It can also spread through contaminated food or sex with an infected person. ALSO READ | New technology can generate solar energy even at night by 'catching' earth’s heat Now, the latest study found that infected men and women were rated as more attractive and healthier-looking than non-infected ones. In the conclusion, the study noted that some sexually transmitted parasites, such as Toxoplasma gondii, might produce changes in the appearance and behaviour of the human host. It further mentioned that it is either a by-product of the infection or a result of the manipulation of the parasite to increase its spread to new hosts. ALSO READ | Scientists believe that this discovery proves now-extinct branch of humanity used to live in southeast Asia As strange as it sounds, scientists said that the phenomenon could make sense from an "evolutionary biology standpoint", Science Alert noted. In a new paper led by the first author and biologist Javier Borráz-León from the University of Turku in Finland, researchers noted: "In one study, Toxoplasma-infected male rats were perceived as more sexually attractive and were preferred as sexual partners by non-infected females." WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Parasites that can alter the mind can make infected people more attractive, study claims

Parasitic worms found in a North Korean soldier, critically injured during a desperate defection, highlight nutrition and hygiene problems that experts say have plagued the isolated country for decades.

At a briefing on Wednesday, lead surgeon Lee Cook-jong displayed photos showing dozens of flesh-coloured parasites - including one 27 cm (10.6 in) long - removed from the wounded soldier&rsquo;s digestive tract during a series of surgeries to save his life.

&ldquo;In my over 20 year-long career as a surgeon, I have only seen something like this in a textbook,&rdquo; Lee said.

The parasites, along with kernels of corn in his stomach, may confirm what many experts and previous defectors have described the food and hygiene situation for many North Koreans.

&ldquo;Although we do not have solid figures showing health conditions of North Korea, medical experts assume that parasite infection problems and serious health issues have been prevalent in the country,&rdquo; said Choi Min-Ho, a professor at Seoul National University College of Medicine who specializes in parasites.

The soldier&rsquo;s condition was &ldquo;not surprising at all considering the north&rsquo;s hygiene and parasite problems,&rdquo; he said.

The soldier was flown by helicopter to the hospital on Monday after his dramatic escape to South Korea in a hail of bullets fired by North Korean soldiers.

He is believed to be an army staff sergeant in his mid-20s who was stationed in the Joint Security Area in the United Nations truce village of Panmunjom, according to Kim Byung-kee, a lawmaker of South Korea&rsquo;s ruling party, briefed by the National Intelligence Service.

North Korea has not commented on the defection.

While the contents of the soldier&rsquo;s stomach don&rsquo;t necessarily reflect the population as a whole, his status as a soldier &ndash; with an elite assignment - would indicate he would at least be as well nourished as an average North Korean.&nbsp;&nbsp;

He was shot in his buttocks, armpit, back shoulder and knee among other wounds, according to the hospital where the soldier is being treated.

The best fertiliser

Parasitic worms were also once common in South Korea 40 to 50 years ago, Lee noted during his briefing, but have all but disappeared as economic conditions greatly improved.

Other doctors have also described removing various types of worms and parasites from North Korean defectors.

Their continued prevalence north of the heavily fortified border that divides the two Koreas could be in part tied to the use of human excrement, often called &ldquo;night soil.&rdquo;

&ldquo;Chemical fertilizer was supplied by the state until the 1970s, but from the early 1980s, production started to decrease,&rdquo; said Lee Min-bok, a North Korean agriculture expert who defected to South Korea in 1995. &ldquo;By the 1990s, the state could not supply it anymore, so farmers started to use a lot of night soil instead.&rdquo;

In 2014, supreme leader Kim Jong Un personally urged farmers to use human faeces, along with animal waste and organic compost, to fertilize their fields.

A lack of livestock, however, made it difficult to find animal waste, said Lee, the agriculture expert.

Even harder to overcome, he said, is the view of night soil as the &ldquo;best fertilizer in North Korea,&rdquo; despite the risk of worms and parasites. 
&ldquo;Vegetables grown in it are considered more delicious than others,&rdquo; Lee said.

Limited diets

The medical briefing described the wounded soldier as being 170 cm (5 feet 5 inches) and 60 kg (132 pounds) with his stomach containing corn. It&rsquo;s a staple grain that more North Koreans may be relying on in the wake of what the United Nations has called the worst drought since 2001.

Imported corn, which is less preferred but cheaper to obtain than rice, has tended to increase in years when North Koreans are more worried about their seasonal harvests.

Between January and September this year, China exported nearly 49,000 tonnes of corn to North Korea, compared to only 3,125 tonnes in all of 2016, according to data released by Beijing.

Despite the drought and international sanctions over Pyongyang&rsquo;s nuclear programme, the cost of corn and rice has remained relatively stable, according to a Reuters analysis of market data collected by the defector-run Daily NK website.

Since the 1990s, when government rations failed to prevent a famine hitting the country, North Koreans have gradually turned to markets and other private means to feed themselves.

The World Food Programme says a quarter of North Korean children 6-59 months old, who attend nurseries that the organization assists, suffer from chronic malnutrition.

On average North Koreans are less nourished than their southern neighbours. The WFP says around one in four children have grown less tall than their South Korean counterparts. A study from 2009 said pre-school children in the North were up to 13 cm (5 inches) shorter and up to 7 kg (15 pounds) lighter than those brought up in the South.

&ldquo;The main issue in DPRK is a monotonous diet &ndash; mainly rice/maize, kimchi and bean paste &ndash; lacking in essential fats and protein,&rdquo; the WFP told Reuters in a statement last month.

The worms highlight nutrition and hygiene problems that experts say have plagued the isolated country for decades

Parasitic worms found in a North Korean soldier, critically injured during a desperate defection, highlight nutrition and hygiene problems that experts say have plagued the isolated country for decades. At a briefing on Wednesday, lead surgeon Lee Cook-jong displayed photos showing dozens of flesh-coloured parasites - including one 27 cm (10.6 in) long - removed from the wounded soldier’s digestive tract during a series of surgeries to save his life. “In my over 20 year-long career as a surgeon, I have only seen something like this in a textbook,” Lee said. The parasites, along with kernels of corn in his stomach, may confirm what many experts and previous defectors have described the food and hygiene situation for many North Koreans. “Although we do not have solid figures showing health conditions of North Korea, medical experts assume that parasite infection problems and serious health issues have been prevalent in the country,” said Choi Min-Ho, a professor at Seoul National University College of Medicine who specializes in parasites. The soldier’s condition was “not surprising at all considering the north’s hygiene and parasite problems,” he said. The soldier was flown by helicopter to the hospital on Monday after his dramatic escape to South Korea in a hail of bullets fired by North Korean soldiers. He is believed to be an army staff sergeant in his mid-20s who was stationed in the Joint Security Area in the United Nations truce village of Panmunjom, according to Kim Byung-kee, a lawmaker of South Korea’s ruling party, briefed by the National Intelligence Service. North Korea has not commented on the defection. While the contents of the soldier’s stomach don’t necessarily reflect the population as a whole, his status as a soldier – with an elite assignment - would indicate he would at least be as well nourished as an average North Korean. He was shot in his buttocks, armpit, back shoulder and knee among other wounds, according to the hospital where the soldier is being treated. The best fertiliser Parasitic worms were also once common in South Korea 40 to 50 years ago, Lee noted during his briefing, but have all but disappeared as economic conditions greatly improved. Other doctors have also described removing various types of worms and parasites from North Korean defectors. Their continued prevalence north of the heavily fortified border that divides the two Koreas could be in part tied to the use of human excrement, often called “night soil.” “Chemical fertilizer was supplied by the state until the 1970s, but from the early 1980s, production started to decrease,” said Lee Min-bok, a North Korean agriculture expert who defected to South Korea in 1995. “By the 1990s, the state could not supply it anymore, so farmers started to use a lot of night soil instead.” In 2014, supreme leader Kim Jong Un personally urged farmers to use human faeces, along with animal waste and organic compost, to fertilize their fields. A lack of livestock, however, made it difficult to find animal waste, said Lee, the agriculture expert. Even harder to overcome, he said, is the view of night soil as the “best fertilizer in North Korea,” despite the risk of worms and parasites. “Vegetables grown in it are considered more delicious than others,” Lee said. Limited diets The medical briefing described the wounded soldier as being 170 cm (5 feet 5 inches) and 60 kg (132 pounds) with his stomach containing corn. It’s a staple grain that more North Koreans may be relying on in the wake of what the United Nations has called the worst drought since 2001. Imported corn, which is less preferred but cheaper to obtain than rice, has tended to increase in years when North Koreans are more worried about their seasonal harvests. Between January and September this year, China exported nearly 49,000 tonnes of corn to North Korea, compared to only 3,125 tonnes in all of 2016, according to data released by Beijing. Despite the drought and international sanctions over Pyongyang’s nuclear programme, the cost of corn and rice has remained relatively stable, according to a Reuters analysis of market data collected by the defector-run Daily NK website. Since the 1990s, when government rations failed to prevent a famine hitting the country, North Koreans have gradually turned to markets and other private means to feed themselves. The World Food Programme says a quarter of North Korean children 6-59 months old, who attend nurseries that the organization assists, suffer from chronic malnutrition. On average North Koreans are less nourished than their southern neighbours. The WFP says around one in four children have grown less tall than their South Korean counterparts. A study from 2009 said pre-school children in the North were up to 13 cm (5 inches) shorter and up to 7 kg (15 pounds) lighter than those brought up in the South. “The main issue in DPRK is a monotonous diet – mainly rice/maize, kimchi and bean paste – lacking in essential fats and protein,” the WFP told Reuters in a statement last month.

Enormous parasitic worms found in North Korean defector

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