Our Earth is full of amazing ecosystems full of organisms such as animals, plants, and
insects, all dependent on each other to keep their ecosystem thriving.
However, there are certain pesky organisms that provide nothing and only take from others
in their ecosystem - these are known as parasites.
It’s estimated that parasites make up approximately 40 percent of all animal species.
That’s A LOT of parasites.
Some, such as head lice, can be quite common in humans - and although they are bothersome,
they are easily treatable and pale in comparison to some of the deadliest and most horrific
parasites out there.
These scarier parasites can cause a number of life-threatening symptoms in humans from
stomach pain and digestive issues, brain inflammation, paralysis, and even death.
One of the most horrific parasites out there is the Screwworm.
This diabolical parasite is not for the faint of heart.
It’s name says it all.
The Latin term for the Screwworm is Cochliomyia hominivorax.
The last part, hominivorax, roughly translates as “eater of man” due to the fact that
the larvae literally eat their way through the host until the host dies.
Yikes!
Two kinds of screwworms exist on Earth, but one is much worse than the other.
For the most part, the Old World Screwworm and the New World Screwworm have very similar
parasitic procedures.
However, while the female Old World Screwworm fly lays one batch of eggs at a time, the
female New World Screwworm fly takes things to the next level - laying a whopping 6 to
8 batches of eggs or more!
So how exactly do these flies laying eggs turn into an awful parasitic infection?
Well, the female adult fly lays its eggs in an open wound of its new host.
Then, in about 8 to 15 hours, the 2-centimeter long larvae hatch causing excruciating pain
and itchiness.
They reach maturity within five days after hatching, resulting in up to 3,000 larvae
being present in a single wound!
From there, these small, white, screw-shaped maggots begin their flesh-munching takeover.
Their persistent jaws allow them to chew their way nearly two inches deep into their host.
Not only do these terrifying worms hatch inside an already existing wound, but they can also
invade any mucus-covered tissue such as in your eyes, ears, or nostrils.
And once they’ve made their way through layers of flesh, they can also dig their mouths
into muscle tissue.
Their textured spines on their screw-shaped bodies anchor them into the tissue making
them very difficult to remove.
All warm-blooded animals can fall victim to these relentless parasites.
From humans, to livestock, to pets - if there is an open wound, a female screwworm fly is
sure to find a cozy home for its larvae.
To make matters worse, these tricky little worms are very difficult to treat.
There are no FDA approved medicines available to treat an infestation of screwworms.
There are, however, a few unconventional ways to treat screwworms that have worked in the
past.
One treatment option, which includes a savory breakfast item, is bizarre to say the least.
In 2007, a 12 year old girl arrived back in the U.S. after taking a trip with her parents
to Colombia.
What the doctors were about to encounter would shock them all.
Upon examining her scalp, doctors noted what looked like fluid-filled bumps.
They cut the young girl’s hair to see better and were then able to identify moving larvae!
The sample was sent off to a lab and was later identified as the New World Screwworm.
Due to the young girl’s pre-existing psoriasis, the female screwworm fly, which is present
in Colombia, was able to lay eggs in the girl’s lesions due to her scratching.
You’ll never believe what these doctors used to get rid of these ruthless parasites
- bacon!
Much like many Americans, these little bugs can’t stay away from bacon.
This “bacon therapy” includes jamming raw bacon in the wound.
The worms try to leave the host as they are either enticed by the meat or as a way to
avoid suffocation within the wound.
After the bacon therapy, 142 larvae were extracted from the young girl’s scalp!
Located in the Western Hemisphere, the New World Screwworm does most of its dirty work
in Central and South America - although infestations have broken out in the United States.
Our last known outbreak being in the Florida Keys in 2016.
So if you’re traveling to Central and South America and get an open wound in any way,
keep an eye out for the terrible screwworm fly.
And, at the very least, always keep a healthy supply of raw bacon on hand... just in case.