Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Dickson Despommier, and Daniel Griffin

The doctors TWiP solve the case of the Woman with White Worms, and explain the role of a secreted growth factor from a carcinogenic parasite in wound healing and angiogenesis.

Links for this episode:

• Wound healing growth factor from carcinogenic parasite (PLoS Path)
• Opisthorchis (CDC)
• Opisthorchis life cycle (CDC)
• Image credit
• Letters read on TWiP 101

Listener Pick

Ramon - ancient-rome-infested-with-parasites.html">Ancient Rome was infested with parasites

Case study for TWiP 101

This week's case involves an uncommon parasite. Young girl, <10 y, brought in by parents from rural area to regional hospital with fever, diarrhea for 2 weeks. No blood in stool. Parents: few weeks prior to problems, young girls went with family on wild pig hunting trip. With guns. Girl did consume pig on trip, all meat was very well cooked. Was involved with preparation of meat with Mother only. No one else got sick. No surgery, no allergies. Both parents have diabetes. Has four brothers. Some weight loss. This is outside the US. Physical exam: low grade fever, diffuse mild abdominal discomfort, slight microcytic anemia, size of cells is slightly smaller than normal. WBC: normal, except no eosinophils. Blood cultures negative. Stool examination is where we get our answer.

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Send your questions and comments (email or mp3 file) to twip@microbe.tv