living barnacles in the body

[Duke Dive Medicine]

Don, the Duke Marine Lab has two, both of who are very interested in the details of the case and have not heard of parasitic barnacle infections in humans. There is skepticism as to whether this is real, however, the orthopedic surgeon who operated on the man said specifically during the program that he had barnacles attached to a tendon sheath in his hand. Hopefully more details are coming.

Best regards,
DDM

 

[tech_diver]

Having barnacles growing inside your body is bad enough but having an ecosystem of the plankton they feed on growing in your body must really be bad.

But they couldn't put it on TV if it wasn't true.

Animal Planet also has other highly scientific shows like "Finding Bigfoot" and "Hillbilly Hand Fishing."

 

[RyanT]

Thank you tech diver!

 

[dumpsterDiver]

I got attacked by some barnacles once.

 

[Duke Dive Medicine]

I spoke with Dr. Zidel, the orthopedic surgeon who cared for the man in the episode that jfelts linked. I believe this is an accurate account. Hopefully more details will be forthcoming.

Best regards,
DDM

 

[DandyDon]

I believe this is an accurate account.

Did I miss something?

 

[Fossil_Diver]

Keep us posted.

 

[RyanT]

I spoke with Dr. Zidel, the orthopedic surgeon who cared for the man in the episode that jfelts linked. I believe this is an accurate account. Hopefully more details will be forthcoming.

I'm still seriously skeptical of this. With the exception of a couple of parasitic species that specialize in infecting crabs, barnacles are are not parasites. The species that infect crabs are very specialized arthropod parasites. It is extremely unlikely that they would be able to tolerate a mammalian body. In general, barnacles simply use a hard surface as a place to anchor so that they can extend their gills into the water column to filter feed and respire. A couple of species of barnacles that colonize whales are specialists and do burrow into the whale skin and/or force the whale's skin to grown around the shell to some degree. Even these specialists still require continuous access to marine waters for feeding and respiration.

I'm sure Dr. Zidel is a competent surgeon, but is s/he a marine scientist or consult one for identification of the barnacle?

 

[Duke Dive Medicine]

I'm still seriously skeptical of this. With the exception of a couple of parasitic species that specialize in infecting crabs, barnacles are are not parasites. The species that infect crabs are very specialized arthropod parasites. It is extremely unlikely that they would be able to tolerate a mammalian body. In general, barnacles simply use a hard surface as a place to anchor so that they can extend their gills into the water column to filter feed and respire. A couple of species of barnacles that colonize whales are specialists and do burrow into the whale skin and/or force the whale's skin to grown around the shell to some degree. Even these specialists still require continuous access to marine waters for feeding and respiration.

I'm sure Dr. Zidel is a competent surgeon, but is s/he a marine scientist or consult one for identification of the barnacle?

The case is actually 8 years old and he has changed hospitals, but if the tissue samples can be retrieved I would like to try to get them to the Duke Marine Lab for analysis. I'm a little skeptical too but I do not believe that this story is fabricated.

Best regards,
DDM

 

[Dan]

I wonder what happens with the original patient, after 30 years.