Why in the news?
- It is the first-ever human case of Ophidascaris robertsi roundworm.
About Ophidascaris robertsi:
- It is a parasitic roundworm typically found in carpet pythons.
- It typically lives in a python’s oesophagus and stomach and sheds its eggs in the host’s faeces.
- Humans infected with Ophidascaris robertsi larvae would be considered accidental hosts.
- Roundworms are incredibly resilient and able to thrive in a wide range of environments.
- In humans, they can cause stomach pain, vomiting, diarrhoea, appetite and weight loss, fever and tiredness.
- This infection is not transmitted between people.
Key facts about carpet pythons
- Morelia spilota, commonly referred to as the carpet python, is a large snake of the family Pythonidae.
- It is found in Australia, New Guinea (Indonesia and Papua New Guinea), the Bismarck Archipelago, and the northern Solomon Islands.
- Conservation status
