Live 8cm-Long Parasitic Worm Usually Found In Snakes Removed From Woman's Brain

• Hari Priya Bandi, the operating surgeon, said she found an 8cm-long worm alive in the brain of an Australian woman
• Bandi said she pulled the worm from the patient’s damaged frontal lobe during surgery in Canberra, a first in the world
• She said the red parasite could have been alive in her brain for up to two months, leading to her symptoms that included forgetfulness and depression

Sydney - A scientist has reported finding an 8cm-long worm alive in the brain of an Australian woman.

Hari Priya Bandi, the operating surgeon, said the worm was pulled from the patient's damaged frontal lobe during surgery in Canberra.

She highlighted that the development astonished everybody in the operating room, adding it wasn't what she expected.

"It was definitely not what we were expecting. Everyone was shocked," she said.

Before the surgery, the 64-year-old woman had symptoms like stomach pain, a cough and night sweats, which evolved into forgetfulness and depression.

According to BBC, the woman was admitted to hospital in late January 2021, and a scan showed an atypical lesion in her right frontal lobe.

However, the cause of her symptoms was revealed during a biopsy by Bandi. She said the red parasite could have been alive in her brain for up to two months.

"I pulled it out... and it was happily moving," she said.

A world-first discovery

In what is considered the first case of a larvae invasion and development in the human brain, Bandi said she had just started operating when she felt the worm.

"I thought, gosh, that feels funny, you couldn't see anything more abnormal. Then I was able to really feel something, and I took my tweezers, and I pulled it out, and I thought, 'Gosh! What is that? It's moving!" she exclaimed.

Scientists have warned that the latest case indicates an increased danger of people getting infected by animal parasites.

The Ophidascaris robertsi roundworm is common in carpet pythons found across much of Australia.

Drug that can treat severe depression

In a separate finding, millions of individuals struggling with depression have something to smile about, thanks to a new drug discovery.

The 25mg tablet of Comp360 psilocybin made out of magic mushrooms was proven to be more effective than antidepressants.

Statistics from the World Health Organisation show that there are 280 million depressed people across the world.