Why Parasites May Not Be All That Bad

According to one ecologist, parasites might be the most common form of life on earth. How gross is that?! Trace looks at what these little creatures are doing to our bodies, and how they may not be quite as bad as we're led to believe.

Read More:

5 Reasons Parasites are Beneficial to the Earth
"Parasites aren't all bad, though. In fact, some of them can actually be quite beneficial to humans and other living creatures."

'Parasitism is the most popular lifestyle on Earth'
"Parasites are all around us - humans alone have 100 - yet they receive little attention. That should change, says ecologist Kevin Lafferty"

Tapeworms in Humans
"Tapeworms are flat segmented worms that live in the intestines of some animals."

Parasites - Dracunculiasis (also known as Guinea Worm Disease)
"Humans become infected by drinking unfiltered water containing copepods (small crustaceans) which are infected with larvae of D. medinensis."

The Potential Health Benefits of Parasitic Gut Worms
"A dose of parasitic whipworms cured monkeys with chronic diarrhea, fixing immune systems gone haywire and offering a snapshot of what worms might do for people."

The 7 Most Horrifying Parasites on the Planet
"As soon as your doctor says you've got parasites in your body, you don't need to hear any more details. They're all horrible, right? How can it get worse than little tiny worms or something feeding on your insides?"

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[mathieumarlaire]

Those fish and birds aren't parasites. An orgamism can only be categorised as a parasite if the organism is living at the cost of the host, meaning the host experiences disadvantages. If not, it is just a symbiotic relationship.

[Necrikus]

Using a worm or any other invasive creature as a form of medicine is not something that sits right with me as that creature cares less about its habitat and more about reproduction. There is little I could do if it began to cause detrimental effects since the damage is done by the time I could respond with appropriate medical treatment. It would have to be something made artificially through genetic engineering or the like designed to treat a specific problem and proven to work as designed for me to even consider it. And even then, by the time we could design something like that, I'm sure a better treatment that didn't involve living things could be used instead. 

[thebeesknees]

Its not harming me and staying in my intestines and only there then im ok with parasites.

[Limegreentorch]

Yep I don't care as long as it doesn't damage me

[TheSentientCloud]

"Parasites are the most common lifestyle."
My mom would most certainly agree with that when it comes to me and my brother...

[CalvinHodgson]

Just look at the related videos to the right and you'll know why parasites are no good.

[ennui]

We got thread worms from uncooked food at a Vietnamese restaurant. The timing was right and we all who were there got them at the very same time. When I was first infected I noticed that I had a weird amount of energy and that my joints did not hurt as usual. Another person who got them with me said the same. This lasted several days. I looked up autoimmune effects of helminths and sure enough they, pinworms, secrete a peptide and probably lots of other stuff that calms the host's immune system. The torture of the itching makes me glad they are gone now but I will not forget the physiological and psychological effects they had on me and this other person too. Some helminth research needs to be done, for those who suffer all the autoimmune diseases, pronto!

[SableWolfAngel]

I once had ring or round (can't remember) worms in my intestines for many years. I got them cured when a friend told me that it wasn't normal to have worm like creatures coming out of my butt. I really regret it. When I had worms I was thinner and could eat whatever I wanted without gaining any weight. I also never EVER got sick from eating anything rotten or upsetting to the stomach. I guess the worms took care of that for me. I wish I could get infected again.

[pozzimystic]

Do a parasite cleanse twice a year. The damage these thieves do is real

[burntpotato]

When I saw this video a wave of relief went through my body

[mouadzcarado]

if a parasite need u to live




he will not hurt u but maybe make u stronger cuz if u die he die u live he live

[TheAttackTaitan]

This video doesn't understand the tree different types of symbiotic relationships. Parasites harm their host. The other two, mutualism and commensalism do not. If these "parasites" aren't any harm to you than they aren't parasites.

[stephenhawkingMLG]

You realize that a parasitic relationship means one organism benefits while the other is HARMED. Half of these mentioned are commensalism or mutualism, not parasitism.

[Seeker]

Not at all. A parasite is simply an "organism that lives on or in an organism of another species, known as the host, from the body of which it obtains nutriment." Or if you prefer something less debatable: Para = beside, Sitos = food. It's not negative or positive, just descriptive. -- Trace

[Falney]

This isn't really a new thought. I read an article a long long time ago. When I was just a young teen, about a scientist doing a study in the Amazon on a tribe in the jungle. They had very few allergies, diseases etc yet when this scientist "de-wormed" a small test group, all kinds of problems appeared shortly after. Unfortunately it was so long ago I can not remember who, when or exactly where it took place :< So I cant link the article. 

[ManLikeAce]

You can't be serious, " we might need parasites" does he know what a parasite is?

[infamoushiphop]

As long as their not killing me and playing a role in my life, im cool with it

[hunterjones]

Yes in a heart beat as long as they are sure it will help and not harm

[Turkeysanwhich]

A parasite is an organism that obtains nourishment and shelter on another organism. It doesn't always have to cause harm, just like not all bacteria cause disease.

[doggo]

2:39 Wouldn't that then be considered commensalism?