Comments on: Dicrocoelium dendriticum http://bencrowder.net/blog/2008/03/dicrocoelium-dendriticum/ I make stuff. Thu, 18 Mar 2010 20:45:36 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Ben http://bencrowder.net/blog/2008/03/dicrocoelium-dendriticum/#comment-3734 Ben Tue, 18 Mar 2008 18:49:11 +0000 http://www.topofthemountains.net/2008/03/13/dicrocoelium-dendriticum/#comment-3734 I am <i>so</i> tempted to write a story based on all this... (Yes, I agree, it wouldn't be a good feeling.) I am so tempted to write a story based on all this… (Yes, I agree, it wouldn’t be a good feeling.)

]]> By: Ann http://bencrowder.net/blog/2008/03/dicrocoelium-dendriticum/#comment-3733 Ann Sun, 16 Mar 2008 19:51:07 +0000 http://www.topofthemountains.net/2008/03/13/dicrocoelium-dendriticum/#comment-3733 Ben: Feeling sorry for the ants was only partially based on their deaths. I was thinking more about my worst nightmare: not being in control of my actions. Perhaps I'm projecting. There's a great debate in the entomological world about how much intelligence insects have. But the way I understand it, the fluke only takes control of the ant's motor impulses. That would mean the ant would still be feeling those natural instincts to be back with the colony yet wouldn't be able to act on them. I imagine it would be frustrating to some extent, even to an ant. Ben: Feeling sorry for the ants was only partially based on their deaths. I was thinking more about my worst nightmare: not being in control of my actions. Perhaps I’m projecting. There’s a great debate in the entomological world about how much intelligence insects have. But the way I understand it, the fluke only takes control of the ant’s motor impulses. That would mean the ant would still be feeling those natural instincts to be back with the colony yet wouldn’t be able to act on them. I imagine it would be frustrating to some extent, even to an ant.

]]> By: Ben http://bencrowder.net/blog/2008/03/dicrocoelium-dendriticum/#comment-3732 Ben Sat, 15 Mar 2008 05:50:55 +0000 http://www.topofthemountains.net/2008/03/13/dicrocoelium-dendriticum/#comment-3732 Xister: I'd never ever heard of this before, but I'm glad someone else has. :) Katherine: Just because I write fiction doesn't mean <i>everything</i> I say is a lie. :P (Hey, that line works for prophets, too -- just because they prophesy doesn't mean <i>everything</i> they say is a prophecy. Huh.) James: Me too, but at least they're not lonely. Ann: I wonder when the ants actually die -- they're small enough that they could easily avoid getting chewed, so maybe it's the stomach acid that gets them? I don't know. e: Eek. I've heard horror stories (urban legends?) about people with bumps on their foreheads only to find out they're spider eggs (<i>hatching</i> spider eggs) or flies or something. That just gives me horrid icky goosebumps. ~shudder~ (And yeah, having a worm get into your brain would be a bummer. Does the worm chew at it or what?) Xister: I’d never ever heard of this before, but I’m glad someone else has. :)

Katherine: Just because I write fiction doesn’t mean everything I say is a lie. :P (Hey, that line works for prophets, too — just because they prophesy doesn’t mean everything they say is a prophecy. Huh.)

James: Me too, but at least they’re not lonely.

Ann: I wonder when the ants actually die — they’re small enough that they could easily avoid getting chewed, so maybe it’s the stomach acid that gets them? I don’t know.

e: Eek. I’ve heard horror stories (urban legends?) about people with bumps on their foreheads only to find out they’re spider eggs (hatching spider eggs) or flies or something. That just gives me horrid icky goosebumps. ~shudder~ (And yeah, having a worm get into your brain would be a bummer. Does the worm chew at it or what?)

]]> By: e http://bencrowder.net/blog/2008/03/dicrocoelium-dendriticum/#comment-3731 e Sat, 15 Mar 2008 03:46:28 +0000 http://www.topofthemountains.net/2008/03/13/dicrocoelium-dendriticum/#comment-3731 Humans can also get flukes and similar parasites by way of the same snails' cysts. After drinking or swimming/bathing in contaminated water or eating plants or animals exposed to the cysts (water chestnuts, watercress, fish, crayfish, crabs) the cysts "hatch" if you will, and the parasite takes up residence in the human liver, lung tissue, or muscles and makes one quite sick. Perhaps the creepiest part is that they can migrate to other places in your body. Suddenly you have a large, sore bump on your arm and what's under the skin? Parasitic worm. Also, but rarely, they can sneak into your brain and, well, kill you. But good news folks, they're not endemic to the US. Humans can also get flukes and similar parasites by way of the same snails’ cysts. After drinking or swimming/bathing in contaminated water or eating plants or animals exposed to the cysts (water chestnuts, watercress, fish, crayfish, crabs) the cysts “hatch” if you will, and the parasite takes up residence in the human liver, lung tissue, or muscles and makes one quite sick. Perhaps the creepiest part is that they can migrate to other places in your body. Suddenly you have a large, sore bump on your arm and what’s under the skin? Parasitic worm. Also, but rarely, they can sneak into your brain and, well, kill you. But good news folks, they’re not endemic to the US.

]]> By: Ann http://bencrowder.net/blog/2008/03/dicrocoelium-dendriticum/#comment-3730 Ann Fri, 14 Mar 2008 22:52:48 +0000 http://www.topofthemountains.net/2008/03/13/dicrocoelium-dendriticum/#comment-3730 I feel worse for the ants. I feel worse for the ants.

]]> By: James http://bencrowder.net/blog/2008/03/dicrocoelium-dendriticum/#comment-3729 James Fri, 14 Mar 2008 14:51:39 +0000 http://www.topofthemountains.net/2008/03/13/dicrocoelium-dendriticum/#comment-3729 I just feel bad for the cows. I just feel bad for the cows.

]]> By: Katherine Morris http://bencrowder.net/blog/2008/03/dicrocoelium-dendriticum/#comment-3727 Katherine Morris Fri, 14 Mar 2008 04:20:57 +0000 http://www.topofthemountains.net/2008/03/13/dicrocoelium-dendriticum/#comment-3727 I think you're making this up. I think you’re making this up.

]]> By: Xister http://bencrowder.net/blog/2008/03/dicrocoelium-dendriticum/#comment-3728 Xister Fri, 14 Mar 2008 01:59:52 +0000 http://www.topofthemountains.net/2008/03/13/dicrocoelium-dendriticum/#comment-3728 I tell people about that parasite all the time. I had heard about it in 7th grade biology or something, and it really freaked me out. (But not anyone else I guess, but no one seemed to remember it.) I had actually begun to worry that I was making it up. Thank you for giving me at least a slight amount of assurance that I'm not going crazy. I tell people about that parasite all the time. I had heard about it in 7th grade biology or something, and it really freaked me out. (But not anyone else I guess, but no one seemed to remember it.) I had actually begun to worry that I was making it up. Thank you for giving me at least a slight amount of assurance that I’m not going crazy.

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