you think trich is the worst? i'd have to go with dipylidium (round worm). or, maybe even hook worms since they bore through your skin/foot to get to your intestines, then suck your blood for nutrients. or, what about the "butt itch" symptom of pinworms? they don't hurt you, per say, but one of the "side affects" is an itchy butt, when the larvae come out. mmm, ever found wiggly butt rice in your panties, or if you prefer commando... in your bed sheets? i haven't, and i don't want to either.
in all they (parasites from amoebas to nematodes to round worms) are all totally gross. i'm not sure why i picked that as a blog topic, cause it is rather strange and, um, gross.
and one of the reasons i didn't eat pork back in the day (for some reason i have over come this) is that no matter HOW much you cook it, the trich larvae are still there (dead or alive). and it just totally grossed me out that i would be eating dead (or alive) trich larvae.
i think though, in my infinite wisdom (chuckle chuckle), the animals we eat today are really raised and fed in troughs and/or live on a concrete pad of sorts. most of the parasites have things like snails as their intermediate host, or live in the soil. the way the animals contract them is by eating dirt, or eating a blade of grass where the snail sat and pooped.
(it appears that all evil arises from shit!)
so, maybe these organic, free range, grass fed, etc. animals aren't as safe as we think, since they are munching on dirt and fresh grass. maybe the CAFO operations are beneficial in the way that they save us from getting worms.
and maybe you're thinking by not eating meat you're safe? think again. snails can crawl on other plants besides grass, like cabbage and tomatoes and apples. birds poop on them too! ever tried to wash broccoli? i can say from experience (blech) that no matter how well you wash it, worms can still be in the head. heck, the worms that live in the very dirt the potatoes and carrots grow in (earthworm) carry more parasites than you can imagine!
... things to think about anyway.
with love,
brerbbgunaimedatthecornstand
come on now analee you know my worm phobia. this blog needed a warning label on it like that snake one you did a while back. gross. i must say i couldn't read it because I thought i was going to vomit...
ReplyDeleteTMI?
haha, you are right! I forgot the other part of biology I learned so long ago that grossed me out about all these parasites, and particularly trichinella... It's that they are still there, even after you have cooked them, albeit dead... GROSS! ;) But, very interesting topic, if there are any more in the series, I await them...
ReplyDeleteAnd, I'm sure I'll have another comment, after I get back from an early morning jaunt into the field, where I'll be dealing with the parasites (bacterial) that scare me more these days... Lyme's Disease, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, etc.! ;) And that itchy butt you're talking about, no dangerous parasite there, but who likes to get chiggers?! heehee... It's almost a guarantee that I'm gonna have some when I get back, given where I'm going...
Yeah...interesting topic, Analee! One must have a stomach of steal to read your Blog sometimes!
ReplyDeleteBTW, I've found one or two of those little snails in my salad (at a restaurant).
Talk about grossing me out...but...not as much as finding a hair or something in my food. That REALLY turns my stomach sour.