Our Earth is full of amazing ecosystems full
of organisms such as animals, plants, and insects, all dependent on each other to keep
their ecosystem thriving. However, there are certain pesky organisms
that provide nothing and only take from others in their ecosystem - these are known as parasites. It’s estimated that parasites make up approximately
40 percent of all animal species. That’s A LOT of parasites. Some, such as head lice, can be quite common
in humans - and although they are bothersome, they are easily treatable and pale in comparison
to some of the deadliest and most horrific parasites out there. These scarier parasites can cause a number
of life-threatening symptoms in humans from stomach pain and digestive issues, brain inflammation,
paralysis, and even death. One of the most horrific parasites out there
is the Screwworm. This diabolical parasite is not for the faint
of heart. It’s name says it all. The Latin term for the Screwworm is Cochliomyia
hominivorax. The last part, hominivorax, roughly translates
as “eater of man” due to the fact that the larvae literally eat their way through
the host until the host dies. Yikes! Two kinds of screwworms exist on Earth, but
one is much worse than the other. For the most part, the Old World Screwworm
and the New World Screwworm have very similar parasitic procedures. However, while the female Old World Screwworm
fly lays one batch of eggs at a time, the female New World Screwworm fly takes things
to the next level - laying a whopping 6 to 8 batches of eggs or more! So how exactly do these flies laying eggs
turn into an awful parasitic infection? Well, the female adult fly lays its eggs in
an open wound of its new host. Then, in about 8 to 15 hours, the 2-centimeter
long larvae hatch causing excruciating pain and itchiness. They reach maturity within five days after
hatching, resulting in up to 3,000 larvae being present in a single wound! From there, these small, white, screw-shaped
maggots begin their flesh-munching takeover. Their persistent jaws allow them to chew their
way nearly two inches deep into their host. Not only do these terrifying worms hatch inside
an already existing wound, but they can also invade any mucus-covered tissue such as in
your eyes, ears, or nostrils. And once they’ve made their way through
layers of flesh, they can also dig their mouths into muscle tissue. Their textured spines on their screw-shaped
bodies anchor them into the tissue making them very difficult to remove. All warm-blooded animals can fall victim to
these relentless parasites. From humans, to livestock, to pets - if there
is an open wound, a female screwworm fly is sure to find a cozy home for its larvae. To make matters worse, these tricky little
worms are very difficult to treat. There are no FDA approved medicines available
to treat an infestation of screwworms. There are, however, a few unconventional ways
to treat screwworms that have worked in the past. One treatment option, which includes a savory
breakfast item, is bizarre to say the least. In 2007, a 12 year old girl arrived back in
the U.S. after taking a trip with her parents to Colombia. What the doctors were about to encounter would
shock them all. Upon examining her scalp, doctors noted what
looked like fluid-filled bumps. They cut the young girl’s hair to see better
and were then able to identify moving larvae! The sample was sent off to a lab and was later
identified as the New World Screwworm. Due to the young girl’s pre-existing psoriasis,
the female screwworm fly, which is present in Colombia, was able to lay eggs in the girl’s
lesions due to her scratching. You’ll never believe what these doctors
used to get rid of these ruthless parasites - bacon! Much like many Americans, these little bugs
can’t stay away from bacon. This “bacon therapy” includes jamming
raw bacon in the wound. The worms try to leave the host as they are
either enticed by the meat or as a way to avoid suffocation within the wound. After the bacon therapy, 142 larvae were extracted
from the young girl’s scalp! Located in the Western Hemisphere, the New
World Screwworm does most of its dirty work in Central and South America - although infestations
have broken out in the United States. Our last known outbreak being in the Florida
Keys in 2016. So if you’re traveling to Central and South
America and get an open wound in any way, keep an eye out for the terrible screwworm
fly. And, at the very least, always keep a healthy
supply of raw bacon on hand... just in case.
