Old Human Parasite in This Korean Mummy

Tapewrom Eggs in Human's Heart

Liver disease caused by parasites has a long history. Analysis on a mummy revealed, the disease that existed since 375 years past. the mummy is the body of a south korean man named Jing Lee. He dies at the age of 63 years in 1642. His body dug from places that are now Cheongdo region in 2014 ago.

The researchers then scanned Lee's mummy with CT Scan and found a strange lump on the liver. Apparently, the contents area unit golden brown eggs measuring 85 micrometers. The researchers, led by Min Seo from Dankook University college of medicine, South Korea, unconcealed that the egg belonged to the paragonimus westermani flatworm.

Launched from New scientist on friday (25/08/2017), P. westermani might enter Lee's body as he eats raw crabs and freshwater prawns. this way of eating was prevalent when the Joseon dynasty (1392-1897) came to power. both animals are believed to be effective medicine to repel measles.

"However, I can't say how this pathological condition could be the reason behind death," Min Seo said. James Diaz of the louisiana State University Health Sciences Center in New Orleans who wasn't concerned within the study said P Westermani infection often had no symptoms.

The parasite will penetrate through the lining of the intestine and move around the peritoneal cavity. Then, P westermani will move towards the lungs or liver till it eventually forms a cyst containing eggs. At this stage, P westermani eggs will look for air cavities.

"A patient will vomit blood," Diaz said. "That's what finally brought them to the doctor." published within the Journal of Parasitology, Lee's case wasn't the first to occur. Despite being the oldest invention, previously there have been similar findings on South Korean mummies.
Karl Reinhard of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln said, of 18 mummies examined, all confirmed carrying parasites.