TWiP 106: Trematode stormtroopers in snail wars
Hosts:\xa0Vincent Racaniello,\xa0Dickson Despommier, and Daniel Griffin
\nThe TWiP\xa0triumvirate\xa0solves the case of the Missionary in Kenya, and review the finding of a soldier caste in flatworms that parasitize snails.
\nLinks for this episode:\n- \n
- Social organization in parasitic flatworms (J Parasitol) \n
- Image credit \n
- Letters read\xa0on TWiP 106 \n
This episode is sponsored by ASM Agar Art Contest
\n\xa0Case study for TWiP\xa0106\nThis week's case comes from\xa0an ophthalmologist colleague Florian in Switzerland. Swiss female, early 20s, returns after surfing vacation in northern Africa. Accommodations were rustic, lots of animal and insect exposure, right on the beach. No screens. Had loose stools there, now left eye is bothering her, eyelid swollen, eye red. This happened after return. Thinks she has seen things moving around in her eye. Opthalmologist gave eyedrops, now looking for second opinion. Healthy, no med/surg/allergies, no meds, student lives alone, occasional alcohol. No AIDS. Surfing in Morocco. Lots of insect bites. Little tiny things moving around in eye, on surface when she looks in mirror. All blood work was negative. Florian inspects her eye, surprised to see several tiny mobile objects, headed towards lacrymal ducts. Is able to grab one, about 1 mm long, plucks three off.
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