Rare brain parasite cases spread in Hawaii

By Susan Scutti, CNN

Updated 1012 GMT (1812 HKT) April 11, 2017

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<strong>Cyclosporiasis:</strong> An intestinal infection caused by the cyclospora cayetanensis parasite, seen here on a stool sample through a microscope on a slide. Cyclospora infect the small intestine and most commonly cause watery diarrhea; other symptoms include abdominal cramping, nausea and weight loss.

Photos: What to know about tapeworms and parasites

Cyclosporiasis: An intestinal infection caused by the cyclospora cayetanensis parasite, seen here on a stool sample through a microscope on a slide. Cyclospora infect the small intestine and most commonly cause watery diarrhea; other symptoms include abdominal cramping, nausea and weight loss.

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<strong>Trichinella spiralis:</strong> If a human or animal eats meat infected with Trichinella cysts, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says, their stomach acid dissolves the hard covering of the cysts. The worms pass into the small intestine, where they lay eggs that develop into immature worms, which travel through the arteries and into the muscles. There, they curl up and return to the original cyst formation, and the life cycle continues. Symptoms can include nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, headaches, fevers, chills, cough, facial swelling, aching joints and muscle pain.

Photos: What to know about tapeworms and parasites

Trichinella spiralis: If a human or animal eats meat infected with Trichinella cysts, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says, their stomach acid dissolves the hard covering of the cysts. The worms pass into the small intestine, where they lay eggs that develop into immature worms, which travel through the arteries and into the muscles. There, they curl up and return to the original cyst formation, and the life cycle continues. Symptoms can include nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, headaches, fevers, chills, cough, facial swelling, aching joints and muscle pain.

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<strong>Anisakiasis: </strong>The nematodes parasite of the genus anisakis causes an illness caused by eating parasite-contaminated raw fish or seafood. The anisakid nematodes can invade the stomach wall or intestines, causing symptoms of gastrointestinal pain, nausea and vomiting. Some people will develop complications, including digestive bleeding and peritonitis, inflammation of the inner wall of the abdomen. An allergic response to the worm can cause life-threatening anaphylaxis.

Photos: What to know about tapeworms and parasites

Anisakiasis: The nematodes parasite of the genus anisakis causes an illness caused by eating parasite-contaminated raw fish or seafood. The anisakid nematodes can invade the stomach wall or intestines, causing symptoms of gastrointestinal pain, nausea and vomiting. Some people will develop complications, including digestive bleeding and peritonitis, inflammation of the inner wall of the abdomen. An allergic response to the worm can cause life-threatening anaphylaxis.

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<strong>Tapeworm, aka Neurocysticercosis, aka T. solium:</strong> This is Taenia solium, the pork tapeworm that causes one of the grossest diseases we're heard about in a while. It's responsible for the worst headache of Luis Ortiz's life. When surgeons looked in his brain, they found a "wiggling" tapeworm inside a cyst. That's called neurocysticercosis, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that about 1,000 people a year get them from eating something infected with "microscopic eggs passed in the feces of a person who has an intestinal pork tapeworm."

Photos: What to know about tapeworms and parasites

Tapeworm, aka Neurocysticercosis, aka T. solium: This is Taenia solium, the pork tapeworm that causes one of the grossest diseases we're heard about in a while. It's responsible for the worst headache of Luis Ortiz's life. When surgeons looked in his brain, they found a "wiggling" tapeworm inside a cyst. That's called neurocysticercosis, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that about 1,000 people a year get them from eating something infected with "microscopic eggs passed in the feces of a person who has an intestinal pork tapeworm."

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<strong>Chagas disease, aka T. cruzi: </strong>This nasty disease comes from a bug called a triatomine that's infected with the Trypanosoma cruzi parasite. The CDC estimates there are at least 300,000 people living with the disease in the U.S. right now, but they may not know it. It unusually takes years of chronic infection before heart disease, heart failure and gastrointestinal problems begin.<br />

Photos: What to know about tapeworms and parasites

Chagas disease, aka T. cruzi: This nasty disease comes from a bug called a triatomine that's infected with the Trypanosoma cruzi parasite. The CDC estimates there are at least 300,000 people living with the disease in the U.S. right now, but they may not know it. It unusually takes years of chronic infection before heart disease, heart failure and gastrointestinal problems begin.

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