logo
episode-header-image
Apr 2016
1h 33m

TWiP 107: Parasites leave a bad taste in...

VINCENT RACANIELLO
About this episode

Hosts: Vincent RacanielloDickson Despommier, and Daniel Griffin

The TWiPtastic trio solves the case of the Surfer from Switzerland, and reveal how taste-chemosensory tuft cells in the gut regulate immune responses to parasites.

Links for this episode:

This episode is sponsored by ASM Agar Art Contest and ASM Microbe 2016

 Case study for TWiP 107

Todays case is a fun case about a 45 year old gentleman from Assam India, with sixteen years of fever, abdominal pain, darkening of skin, yellowing of eyes. Farmer, does not have much energy. Works barefoot in fields. Fever occurs every other day. Prior medical problems, nothing out of the ordinary. No surgeries, no meds, has never seen physician. Married, kids, no extramarital affairs, HIV negative, eats mostly cooked vegetables. Lives in concrete house, no screens, mosquito netting. Other people in area have similar problems. Water comes from pump, fill plastic jugs. Been in Assam sick his whole life, finally came to regional med center for evaluation. Underweight. No pets. Dogs around, avoids dogs. Cows, monkeys are around. Fair appetite. Exam: febrile, in face can see darkening which is increasing, also extremities. Whites of eyes are yellow (jaundiced). Striking is has a very large liver, spleen. Elevated bilirubin. Some increased liver enzymes. No physical scarring or lesions.

Send your diagnosis to twip@microbe.tv

Send your questions and comments to twip@microbe.tv

Up next
Jul 4
TWiP 261: A case for Dr. Hickam
TWiP solves the case of the pregnant woman from Tanzania with dehydration and 3 weeks of bloody stool, a situation that would confuse Ockam but not Dr. Hickam. Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Daniel Griffin, and Christina Naula Subscribe (free): Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, RSS, e ... Show More
1h 12m
Jun 24
TWiP 260: Daily rhythms
TWiP explains how circadian clocks of parasite and vector circadian mediate efficient malaria transmission. Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Daniel Griffin, and Christina Naula Subscribe (free): Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, RSS, email Links for this episode Join the MicrobeTV Disco ... Show More
1h 5m
Jun 2
TWiP 259: Know your knowlesi
TWiP solves the case of the man in the Malaysian city of Kucheng who presents with daily fevers and shaking chills, and serve a new clinical puzzle for you to solve. Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Daniel Griffin, and Christina Naula Subscribe (free): Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, ... Show More
57m 16s
Recommended Episodes
Sep 2023
Parasites
On today’s episode: Spicy foods might be more dangerous than we thought. And what happens when a parasite messes with the wrong organism? All that and more today on All Around Science... LINKS: SOURCES The room-temperature superconductor that wasn’t Teen’s death after eating a si ... Show More
54m 54s
Jun 2022
Ep 99 Salmonella: A hard egg to crack
We’ve all been there: doubled over in pain as stomach cramps grip your guts; the panicked shuffle to the nearest bathroom; the waves of nausea and chills as you cry out loud, “oh no, what did I eat??”.  At the very least, food poisoning is a humbling experience, but at the worst, ... Show More
1h 37m
Sep 2019
Ep 35 Lyme Disease: I'd like to check you for ticks
For our last episode of this season, we’re going out with a bang, or should we say bite? This week we’re tackling the doozy of a disease called Lyme, the most prevalent tick-borne infection in the northern hemisphere. Tune in to hear us navigate the complicated biology of Borreli ... Show More
2 h
Nov 2023
Hypno Pain Killer, Mosquito Secrets, Important Worms
Today, you’ll learn about how hypnotherapy could be a tool to fight pain after surgery, a discovery that could lead to less mosquito-borne diseases, and how you might have worms to thank for your fall feast. Hypno Pain Killer “The Role of Hypnotherapy in Postoperative Cardiac Sur ... Show More
14m 22s
Oct 2021
Pills Can Detect Radiation, Metabolism Myth, Waking Up on the Wrong Side of the Bed
Learn about how our metabolism changes; waking up on the wrong side of the bed; and painkillers as radiation dosimeters.The metabolism changes much more gradually as we get older than we thought by Grant CurrinMetabolism changes with age, just not when you might think. (2021, Aug ... Show More
14m 56s
Jun 2023
You’re Not Crazy, Toxic Mold Exposure Is Poisoning Your Brain - Brian Karr : 1066
If you have all sorts of unexplained health problems in your home, where you work, or where you go to school, symptoms can be very different. One person's gaining fat, another person's always tired, other people have dark circles, emotional irregularity, sudden weight gain, onset ... Show More
1h 9m
Nov 2022
Battling Pathogens and Building Immunity Begins In Your Gut – Dr. Robynne Chutkan : 998
IN THIS EPISODE OF THE HUMAN UPGRADE™… Robynne Chutkan, M.D., joins the show to talk about a topic that’s foundational to biohacking—resilience. More specifically, resilience that starts in the gut. You’ll learn:how your microbiome continually evolves and why that matters to the ... Show More
1h 17m
Aug 2020
Ep 56 Sickle Cell Disease: Invisible Illness, Enduring Strength
Neglected and ignored by the medical establishment throughout most of its history, sickle cell disease remains one of the most common (and commonly misunderstood) genetic conditions in the world. In this episode, we break down the myriad effects that one nucleotide substitution c ... Show More
1h 59m
Feb 2022
Ep 90 Human African Trypanosomiasis: A lot to unpack
Here on the podcast, we’re no strangers to multi-host parasites with complicated life cycles, intricate ecologies and dense human histories. But human African trypanosomiasis (HAT) might require the most unpacking yet. In this episode, we do a deep dive into the tsetse fly-transm ... Show More
1h 27m
Jun 2020
Covid -19 hope for severe cases
A multi arm trial testing a range of drugs has shown that readily available steroids can be lifesaving for people severely ill with Covid-19. Max Parmar, head of the UK Medical Research Council’s clinical trials unit says the trial design, where many potential drugs can be tested ... Show More
1h 11m