2023-12-03 17:39:00
TDN > Science Published by Elodie GD on Dec 03, 2023 at 6:39 p.m.
While at the University of Missouri Department of Gastroenterology undergoing a colonoscopy, this patient caught the attention of practitioners. For good reason, by examining his colon, they noted the presence of a fly intact. A very rare occurrence.
Also read: Did you know: why do flies never find their way out of a house?
An intact fly in a colon!
A dead fly, certainly, but intact. This is the curious discovery that doctors from the gastroenterology department of the University of Missouri made in the colon of a 63-year-old man. And if it seems unimportant to us, it is in reality a rare, even worrying, phenomenon.
A case so rare that practitioners broadcast the images of the examination in l’American Journal of Gastroenterology. They explain that only three hypotheses can explain the presence of the fly in such a deep section of the colon.
The first would be that the insect entered the patient’s body through the mouth. However, if this were the case, it would have been digested at least in part by gastric enzymes before reaching the intestines. Which is not the case. When questioned to try to find out more, the patient claimed that he had only eaten clear liquids the day before the examination. Two days before, he ate salad and lettuce. And, during his meal, he claims not to have noticed the presence of the insect in his food.
Also read: In the middle of an interview, this child swallows 2 flies! And he seems to like it… (video)
The mystery remains
The second hypothesis assumes that the fly entered through the anus. However, this requires an entrance wide and long enough for her to enter comfortably. However, the curvature and the absence of light in this area make, once once more, the hypothesis unlikely. In addition, the patient would have felt a sensation of discomfort at the time of the “introduction” of the insect.
Third hypothesis: a case of intestinal myiasis. Intestinal myiasis is a condition in which fly larvae or eggs survive the gastrointestinal environment. Sources of contamination include overripe fruits and vegetables or cheese preparations containing fly larvae.
But the cases of myiasis noted so far report the presence of larvae in the stools. Which is not the case for the sixty-year-old. Affected people report diarrhea or even abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting. Which is, once once more, not the case for the patient. In short, the mystery still remains.
Also read: Why is it (almost) impossible to catch a fly by hand?
1701629030
#fly #stomach #sixtyyearold
