First human brain infection traced to Australian parasite Ophidascaris robertsi

Doctors in Australia diagnosed a 64-year-old woman with a rare neural larva migrans caused by Ophidascaris robertsi, a parasite native to carpet pythons. After years of lung and organ lesions and progressive neuropsychiatric symptoms, a brain biopsy revealed the worm. She was treated with surgical removal followed by ivermectin and albendazole, plus dexamethasone, leading to resolution of lung and liver lesions and improved memory and mood.