10 Daily Things

Loa Loa worms (also known as the “eye worm”) are classified as filarial worms, meaning they thrive in human tissue. The Loa Loa worm is also called the “eye worm” because they often migrate through the eye and surrounding subsurface areas. At one time, prior to the 1920s, loa loa worm infections occurred in the United States. Today, however, they mainly infect people who are native to Sudan, and those who live in or near Central and West Africa’s swamps and rain forests.

Cymothoa exigua is a parasitic crustacean of the family Cymothoidae. It tends to be 3 to 4 cm long.

This parasite attaches itself at the base of the spotted rose snapper’s (Lutjanus guttatus) tongue, entering the fish’s mouth through its gills. It then proceeds to extract blood through the claws on its front three pairs of legs.

As the parasite grows, less and less blood reaches the tongue, and eventually the organ atrophies from lack of blood. The parasite then replaces the fish’s tongue by attaching its own body to the muscles of the tongue stub. The fish is able to use the parasite just like a normal tongue.

It appears that the parasite does not cause any other damage to the host fish. Once C. exigua replaces the tongue, some feed on the host’s blood and many others feed on fish mucus. They do not eat scraps of the fish’s food.

This is the only known case of a parasite functionally replacing a host organ.

A range of faulty raised toilet seats has led to at least six people being injured, a safety watchdog warned today.

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) said it had received 91 reports of broken Homecraft Rolyan Savanah seats.

The MHRA said six people had fallen off the toilet because the seat slipped, with injuries including bumps to the head, bruising and back injury.

One woman died following one of the incidents, although it was not clear to what extent the fall had contributed to her death, the MHRA said.

It urged the public and health and social care providers to be vigilant over the two and four-inch raised seats.

Nearly 25,000 of the seats were sold in the UK between May 2007 and January. However, they do not carry a batch or serial number.

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A student died after downing half a litre of vodka in 20 minutes during a university drinking game, an inquest heard yesterday.

Jason Venezia, 19, couldn’t stand or speak after trying to win a £40 ($64, €50) bet that he could neck a full bottle of the spirit.

Pals carried the Warwick psychology student to his room after the May binge, but he died of alcohol poisoning.

After Coventry coroner Sean McGovern recorded a verdict of misadventure, parents Joan and Ennio, of Solihull, West Mids, called for the drinking age to rise to 21.

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A restaurant chain has sparked fury by serving up pizzas with a topping of FROGS’ LEGS.

The “Hopper” contains eight limbs on a traditional base with capers and an anchovy sorbet.

The £17.95 dish has angered campaigners who slammed it as “barbaric” - because frogs’ legs are amputated while they are still alive.

Chef Sami Wasif came up with the idea on a trip to Paris - and called it “refined”.

He said: “I’ve been making pizza for more than 20 years and know that London is a city always looking for something new.”

He added: “Pizza is something you can experiment with. I might try one with snails on it next.”

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