How dangerous is the horse hair parasite?

Horse hair (a parasite, a photo look below) for a long time caused in people is just a mystical horror. There are always a lot of rumors and guesses around him. Conrad Gesner wrote back in the 16th century (the book "Natural History"): "It is believed that the horse hair parasite is a real hair from the tail of a horse, revived in the water. This is unlikely".

According to the belief, a horse hair parasite is able to penetrate the skin as soon as a person enters the water. Most often he digs into the heel, and the victim in these seconds does not feel even the slightest discomfort. Everything begins later: the horse hair parasite rushes to the heart, eating out on the way to the main goal all the insides of the owner.

The fear of this monstrous monster is really great. However, is it justified? How dangerous for us is horse hair?

A man's parasite does not live. For people swimming in a fresh water basin (that's where hairies are found), there is no risk of infection. In order to understand this, it is enough just to take a closer look at the worm and its cycle of reproduction.

The parasite itself is often darker (usually brown, closer to black), rather thin (a large specimen up to a millimeter in width), its size can reach half a meter (more often - up to 40 centimeters), without changes in thickness throughout the body. A tiny fork is barely visible on the threadlike rigid body of the male. The worm is really incredibly similar to the hair of a horse. This striking similarity influenced the name.

It is very interesting to observe the movements of the hairy. The parasite of horsehair often creeps along the very bottom, slowly wriggling, sometimes twisting and forming tangles and whimsical loops (as if tied around itself).

Freshwater species such as roundworms have several genera. Hairless - a parasite of insects. Initially, its larvae penetrate into the embryos of mosquitoes, ground beetles, water-beetles, puffins, etc., where they turn into adult worms that go into the water. Nature has created a parasite unable to swallow food, nutrition occurs at the expense of nutrients accumulated at the time when he lived in an insect. That's why he does not live long (up to 3 weeks).

A man who accidentally swallowed a horse's hair while swimming, the danger does not threaten: the hairy will not develop in his body due to improper conditions. The parasite can be found in the body of snails, crustaceans, in fish. However, careful heat treatment kills it.

Adult individuals living in water bodies with fresh water testify to the purity of the flora. They are absolutely harmless for homo sapiens.

However, there is another parasite that strongly resembles a hairy. This is a rishta, a resident of the tropics, the causative agent of dracunculiasis. Myths and stories attributed to horsehair are more relevant to this representative of parasites. However, in our latitudes the dracunculiasis was not fixed.

Anyway, one thought about the introduction of a parasite into our body causes a shudder. To protect yourself from accidents, bathe only in the permitted places and try not to swallow the water (even if it seemed crystal clear to you). Fruits and berries that you are going to take, wash at home (or take drinking water with you). Enjoy your vacation!