Parasites: Harmless Codependents or Vicous Man Eaters?

Michael C. Stephens

English Comp 1010

10/29/2013

Harlan Pease

Parasites:

"Harmless Codependents or Vicious Man Eaters?"

The term parasite is defined as "living in or on another organism: living in or on another host organism, usually causing it harm". This would indicate the common house flea or mosquito could be considered members of the parasite world. However, the parasite world is comprised of more than airborne bacteria and viruses; this class of organism also includes non-microscopic you've members as well. If you've ever witnessed a group of maggots inhabiting the remains of a dead animal, you have seen an example of large parasites. These little organisms are not just fond of dead animal tissue or the fecal matter of the yard dog; they're also likely to be in the living bodies of human beings, usurping nutrients, excreting harmful toxic substances and feeding off of the biological materials of our bodies causing internal bleeding and fatigue, among a numerous myriad of other ailments. The question that is now being asked: "Is eliminating meat and parasitically accommodating foods from our diet the safest way to avoid unnecessary of infection, or can we keep eating the same foods, with safer cleaning methods?"

Wrestlers and football players have a tendency to contract ringworm infections, after exposure to the bare skin of one of his teammates or opponents. Even soldiers, commissioned for military service, having spent a brief period of time overseas ,returned to the states with intestinal worms, and some were left undetected for as long as fifty years and longer. They've been known to move into the body by means of the feet, after having walked barefoot on grass or sand at the beach.

But not all these invaders are small in size. Some worm-like parasites have been reported to grow unbelievable lengths. According to Carl Zimmer, renowned scientist and science commentator, he describes tapeworms in his book Parasite Rex: Inside the Bizarre World of Nature's Most Dangerous Creatures as "flat, narrow ribbons that could stretch for sixty feet." They can make their homes in the intestinal tract for years without notice.

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