Wierd Parasite of the Fish

[Green Destiny]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cymothoa_exigua

http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=41c_1266552207 (video)

Creepy or what?

 

[cosmictraveler]

Parasites are strange critters that's for sure. It is odd that this one wasn't known about until 2005 as well.

 

[birch]

nature is disgusting and twisted

 

[Green Destiny]

Parasites are strange critters that's for sure. It is odd that this one wasn't known about until 2005 as well.

It's actually very fascinating how many new species of creature, whether be a parasitic creature or not, each year!

 

[cosmictraveler]

It's actually very fascinating how many new species of creature, whether be a parasitic creature or not, each year!

I just wonder if those critters aren't something else that mutated into another critter because of pollutants, chemicles or other stuff in the environment? :shrug:

 

[Green Destiny]

I just wonder if those critters aren't something else that mutated into another critter because of pollutants, chemicles or other stuff in the environment? :shrug:

Goodness only knows. It certainly wouldn't be the first time.

 

[Skeptical]

Actually, it would. There is no case on record of any species mutating into another species due to pollution or other similar cause.

 

[Green Destiny]

Actually, it would. There is no case on record of any species mutating into another species due to pollution or other similar cause.

I don't know. I think of the simpsons, and that poor fish which has several eyes

 

[Green Destiny]

Are you sure. A quick search on harmful radiation poisening seems to suggest otherwise?

http://www.google.co.uk/search?q=do...e=UTF-8&sourceid=ie7&rlz=1I7TSEH_enGB381GB381

 

[Idle Mind]

None of those examples have led to a new species.

 

[Green Destiny]

Oh, we were talking about new species, of course. I was just being silly, I was just concentrating my efforts on mutations, not necesserily mutations which have caused new species.

 

[Arioch]

Hardly the most interesting, or innovative, among the parasites. Try the Leucochloridium paradoxum or the so called zombie ant fungus. Now those are some interesting parasites.

 

[chimpkin]

Only been dormant 10 months...too early for a

:shrug:

 

[Enmos]

Creepy or what?

Not really. There are far more creepy parasites on this planet.

 

[Asguard]

where does paracyte end and symbote begin?

 

[fenrisx]

the fact that it actually replaces the tongue is creepy and wrong

 

[Enmos]

the fact that it actually replaces the tongue is creepy and wrong

Wrong? How so?
Would you rather have the fish die?

 

[birch]

most parasites are harmful and it's no reciprocal relationship where the host benefits at all. in fact, there are horrific parasites. this one is an exception in that it doesn't seem to harm the fish.

 

[chimpkin]

most parasites are harmful.

Funny, that.

In 2006, the National Health Services allowed Dr. Pritchard to conduct a study with 30 participants, 15 of who received 10 worms each. The test showed that after six weeks, the infected recipients' T-cell, the chemical responsible for the inflammatory response, levels dropped.

http://tnjn.com/2010/apr/16/hookworm-to-help-with-allergie/

So...histamine is a toxic chemical to human intestinal parasites. So these parasites seemed to have evolved a way to lower immune reactivity in the human host.

Therapeutic levels of hookworm infestation.

If they do any broad clinical trials in Houston, I am so there...

 

[Orleander]

Wrong? How so?
Would you rather have the fish die?

wasn't the fish perfectly fine til it removed its tongue? It wouldn't die if it still had its tongue