Ophidascaris robertsi

Why in the news?

• It is the first-ever human case of Ophidascaris robertsi roundworm.

About Ophidascaris robertsi:

• It is a parasitic roundworm typically found in carpet pythons.
• It typically lives in a python’s oesophagus and stomach and sheds its eggs in the host’s faeces.
• Humans infected with Ophidascaris robertsi larvae would be considered accidental hosts.
• Roundworms are incredibly resilient and able to thrive in a wide range of environments.
• In humans, they can cause stomach pain, vomiting, diarrhoea, appetite and weight loss, fever and tiredness.
• This infection is not transmitted between people.

Key facts about carpet pythons

• Morelia spilota, commonly referred to as the carpet python, is a large snake of the family Pythonidae.
• It is found in Australia, New Guinea (Indonesia and Papua New Guinea), the Bismarck Archipelago, and the northern Solomon Islands.
• Conservation status
  • IUCN: Least concern