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P A R A S I T E S

At November 4,  2004, we added the following Words and Phrases relative to our subject:'

Parasitic Infections and Roundworms

A parasite is an organism that lives off, and generally within, a host body. This can include your body, or the body of an animal, like your pet. Parasites live off of the "life" of another body, feeding on the nutrients, cells, and organs, of the host. 

They can reproduce by the thousands, depositing thousands of eggs, or simply replicating by cell division, within the host's tissues and cells. 

Estimates are that up to 85% of the human population is infected with parasites, and up to 50% of people in the United States are infected.

Parasites are often "mobile," moving to feed off of one area of the body and then to another. They can eat the host's cells directly, or drain the best of the nutrients directly from the host's tissues. (Remember, if you are inhabited by parasites, we are not talking about some other "host," but we are talking about YOU.) After eating, the parasite excretes its fecal wastes throughout the body's host  leaving a poisonous, amonia-like substance for the host's body to deal with. Parasites are NOT friendly, well-mannered guests.

Most parasitic infections come from our food and water sources but can also be transmitted by human or animal contact. Simply petting and grooming our pets can facilitate infection, the parasites' eggs passing from their fur to our hands, nose and mouth. Some parasites (e.g. pinworms) can even be transmitted through the air and are in the dust we breath. It's likely, therefore, that those who live in the same household will all have the same parasitic infections, whether they are currently symptomatic or not. People are infected by parasites through our water sources, our food sources (especially if the people who handle our foods at restaurants are themselves infected), through our pets, and even through our infected children (children are the most easily infected). 

If one person in a household is infected, then chances are EVERYONE in that household is infected, and everyone in that household must be treated together!

Parasites are often mobile, "grazing" in one area of the body after another, eating the host's cells directly or draining the best of the nutrients directly from the host's tissues, all while secreting their fecal wastes throughout the host's body, leaving their poisonous toxic sludge (like ammonia) behind, further taxing the host system's abilities even more gravely. 

Parasites likely infect everyone. It's estimated that as many as 85% of the world's population is so inflicted. In fact, it's highly likely that you are infected by one or more of over 1000 known parasites which can live in your body at any one time. 

There are over 1000 known parasites that can infect human hosts. Medical tests can detect only about 50 of them at this time. Unless your physician has been trained in, or worked in, a Third World Country, he or she probably does not consider the possibility of parasites as causing illness in his or her community. 

Now, please continue with the original site.

Possible signs and symptoms of internal parasites:

• Feel tired most of the time (Chronic Fatigue)?
• Have digestive problems? (gas, bloating, constipation or diarrhea that come and go but never really clear up)
• Have gastrointestinal symptoms and bulky stools with excess fat in feces?
•  
• Suffer with food sensitivities and environmental intolerance?
• Developed allergic-like reactions and can’t understand why?
• Have joint and muscle pains and inflammation often assumed to be arthritis?
•  
• Suffer with anemia or iron deficiency (pernicious anemia)?
• Have hives, rashes, weeping eczema, cutaneous ulcers, swelling, sores, papular lesions, itchy dermatitis?
• Suffer with restlessness and anxiety?
•  
• Experience multiple awakenings during the night particularly between 2 and 3 am?
• Grind your teeth?
• Have an excessive amount of bacterial or viral infections?
•  
• Depressed?
• Difficulty gaining or losing weight no matter what you do?
• Did a Candida program which either didn’t help at all or helped somewhat but you still can’t stay away from bread, alcohol, fruit, or fruit juices?
•  
• Just can’t figure out why you don’t feel really great and neither can your doctor?
• itchy ears, nose, anus
• forgetfulness, slow reflexes, gas and bloating, unclear thinking;
•  
• loss of appetite, yellowish face
• fast heartbeat, heart pain, pain in the navel;
• eating more than normal but still feeling hungry;
•  
• pain in the back, thighs, shoulders;
• lethargy;
• numb hands;
•  
• burning sensation in the stomach;
• drooling while sleeping;
• damp lips at night, dry lips during the day, grinding teeth while asleep;
•  
• bed wetting;
• women: problems with the menstrual cycle;
• men: sexual dysfunction;

These are only possible symptoms, and please keep in mind that not everyone that has a few of these symptoms should automatically make the assumption that they are infected; however, if you suspect infection or have been unsuccessfully treated for a problem, it is worth doing some specific parasite control.


Ascaris lumbricoides   (THIS IS ONE EXAMPLE = more below)

                           Photo courtesy of Peter Darben

This round worm must be about the most ubiquitous parasite of humans with an estimated 1 billion people infected world wide. In some communities infections rates reach 100%. 

These large worms, often up to 30 cm in length ,inhabit the intestinal lumen. Each female worm produces approximately 200,000 eggs per day with an estimated total of 27 million during its life span. The eggs are highly resistant to adverse environmental conditions which contributes to its widespread distribution.

An extraordinary variety of viruses, bacteria, and parasites stand ready to attack us and feed off our bodies' cells. Using microscopes of varying power, photographers show us a teeming microbial world that we could barely imagine without their help.

The approximate sizes of microbes can be approximated by using the following rule of thumb:

• VIRUSES are the smallest of all infectious agents, averaging about 100 nanometers (100 billionths of a meter) in length. They have so few genes and proteins of their own that in order to reproduce they need to commandeer the machinery of the cells they invade.
  
  
• BACTERIA vary widely in size and shape, but tend to be at least 10 times larger than viruses, or at least 1 micrometer (1 millionth of a meter) long. They are single-cell organisms that reproduce independently.
  
  
• SINGLE-CELL PARASITES tend to be at least 10 times larger than bacteria, or about .01 millimeter long.
  
  
• MULTI CELLULAR PARASITES are so large they can usually be seen with the naked eye. Tapeworms, for instance, can reach a length of 6 meters (20 feet).

Food and water are the most common sources of parasite transmission. 

Since most of us eat three times a day and drink water frequently throughout the day,
 our exposure to these sources is constant. Tap water has been found to be 
contaminated with parasitic organisms. 

Both plant and animal foods carry parasites, and cleaning and cooking methods often do not destroy them before ingestion. The CDC (Center for Disease Control) cites food 
as the catalyst behind 80 percent of the pathogenic outbreaks in the U.S. 

Most are linked to restaurants and delis where less than sanitary conditions exist -- 
from food preparation and storage to the utensils and servers' hands.

Animals, just like humans, can become infected with parasites. 

Internally, contaminated water and food can spread the problem to our pets. 

Externally, animals become infected by parasites on their bodies, especially on
 their fur, because of exposure to infected animal wastes. 

Forgetting to wash your hands even one time after handling or cleaning up after your 
animal can transmit the parasite to you. Pets are a wonderful part of our lives. 

They provide comfort, companionship, protection, amusement, and unconditional love 
for their owners. Yet, pets, like humans, are often victims of serious infections 
that can unintentionally be passed on to their owners. 

In fact, there is a whole set of diseases classified as 'zoonoses' (animal-transmitted diseases)
 in parasitology textbooks. Animals are major carriers of parasites, and most physicians
 let alone the general public, are unaware of this fact. 

Experts have projected that of the 110 million pet dogs and cats in this country, over half may be infected with at least one or more different kinds of parasites. Considering these numbers, the potential for transmission of parasitic infection from animals to humans is extremely high.

The CDC estimates that the number of parasites present in the United States alone number
 in the thousands. These parasites are biochemically complex creatures in their life
 histories, development, reproductive cycles, nutritional requirements, and disease manifestation. They are categorized according to structure, shape, function, and 
reproductive ability. 

These include microscopic organisms (protozoa); roundworms, pinworms, 
and hookworms (nematoda); tapeworms (cestoda); and flukes (trematoda).

PROTOZOA
Making up approximately 70 percent of all parasites, protozoa are invisible to the naked eye.

 They are one-celled microscopic organisms, but don't let their size fool you. Certain protozoans, through their intensely rapid reproductive ability, can take over the
intestinal tract of their host; and from there go on to other organs and tissues. 

Some feed on red blood cells. 

Some protozoa produce cysts - closed sacs in which they may be safely transported through food and water from one person to another. In the cyst state, protozoans are safe from destruction by human digestive juices. These one-celled 'vampires' can actually destro
 the tissues of their hosts. According to experts, an estimated 7 million people 
across the U.S. have some form of protozoa living inside of them. 

Common protozoa include: Endolimax nana, Giardia lamblia, Entamoeba histolytica, Cryptosporidum parvum, Blastocystis hominis, Trichomonas vaginalis, Toxoplasma gondii, Cyclospora cayetanensis, Cryptosporidium muris, Pneumocystis carinii, Plasmodium malariae, Plasmodium ovale, Plasmodium vivax, Plasmodium falciparum, Leishmania donovani, Leishmania tropica, and Leishmania braziliensis.

NEMATODE
While the protozoans are only single-celled, nematode creatures are multi cellular. 

The adult worms multiply by producing eggs called ova or larvae. The eggs usually
 become infectious in soil or in an intermediate host before humans are infected. 

It is interesting to note that unless the worm infection is heavy, many individuals do not
show signs of disease. While it may be unpleasant to consider, it is true that the human
 host can coexist quite comfortably with a few worms, unless they reproduce 
in great numbers and create organ obstruction. 

Experts claim that 'some type of worm is already in the intestines of 
over 75 percent of the world's population'. 

This is a frightening statement. Common nematode include: 

Roundworm (Ascaris lumbricoides), Hookworm (Necator Americanus, Ancylostoma duodenal), Pinworm (Enterobius vermicularis), Roundworm (Toxocara canis, Toxocara cati), Heart worm (Dirofilaria immitis), Strongyloides (Stronglyoides stercoralis), Trichinella (Trichinella spiralis), Filaria (Wuchereria bancrofti, Brugia malayi, Onchocerca volvulus, Loa loa, Mansonella streptocerca, Mansonella perstans, Mansonella ozzardi), and Anisakine larvae.

CESTODA
Among the oldest known parasites, tapeworms are considered humanity's largest intestinal inhabitant. They each have a scolex (head) that attaches to the intestinal wall. 

As long as the head remains attached to the intestinal mucosa, a new worm can grow from it.

 Tapeworms do not contain digestive tracts but get their nourishment by absorbing partially digested substances from the host. They are whitish in color, flat, and ribbon-like, 
with a covering that is a transparent skin-like layer. 

Common cestoda include: 

Beef tapeworm (Taenia saginata), Pork tapeworm (Taenia solium), Fish tapeworm (Diphyllobothrium latum), and Dog tapeworm (Dipylidium caninum).

TREMATODE
Trematode are leaf-shaped flatworms also known as flukes. 
They are parasitic during nearly all of their life-cycle forms. 

The cycle begins when larvae are released into freshwater by infected snails. 

The free-swimming larvae can then directly penetrate the skin of the human host or are ingested after encysting in or on various edible, vegetation, fish, or crustaceans. 

Common trematode include: 

Intestinal fluke (Fasciolopsis buski), Blood fluke (Schistosoma japonicum, Schistosoma mansoni) Schistosoma haematobium), Liver fluke (Clonorchis sinensis), Oriental lung fluke (Paragonimus westermani), and Sheep liver fluke (Fasciola hepatica).

PARASITE FIGHTER
(This is our product to fight parasites)

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please check it out.  Knowing about Parasites and fighting them
are not the easy things to do, but, for the sake of your own
health, check things and "fight".  

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