• worldwide: one of the most common human parasites [1] [2] • Developing regions: infects 40–100% of the total populations [ 1 ] [ 2 ] [ 3 ] eating food contaminated with feces from an infected human or animal

The broad or fish tapeworm <em>Diphyllobothrium latum</em>, inhabiting the small intestine of fishes and sometimes humans too, attains a length of 9.1–12.1 m (30–40 ft) but can exceptionally reach 18.28 m (60 ft).

Jan 22, 2024 · What Is the Biggest Parasite? P. falciparum is tiny. But some parasites can grow to be whoppers. The biggest one that infects human hosts is thought to be Diphyllobothrium latum. This parasite can grow up to 30 feet long (at least!). That’s more than four times longer than Shaquille O’Neal is tall.

Dioctophyme (=Dioctophyma) renale, the giant kidney worm, is the largest known parasitic nematode infecting humans — adult females can reach over one meter in length.

Mar 14, 2025 · The title of “largest parasite in the world” is most likely held by the tapeworm Tetragonoporus calyptocephalus, a formidable inhabitant of sperm whales. This remarkable creature can reach lengths of up to a staggering 90 feet (approximately 27 meters).

In 1992, a specimen of A.solidipes in Washington state, USA, was found to cover 900 ha. For an idea of its mass, a mere 15 ha specimen of a related species weighed 100 tonnes, so the …

Dec 31, 2023 · Diphyllobothriids are the largest parasitic tapeworms that can infect people. You can get infected by eating raw or undercooked fish. You can treat Diphyllobothriid infection with medication.

May 15, 2024 · The tapeworm Diphyllobothrium latum is the largest of its kind that can infect humans. The parasite can grow up to 30 feet (9 meters) long, and can lead to intestinal obstruction and...

Ascaris lumbricoides (usually called Ascaris) is the most common intestinal parasite in humans. It is also the largest roundworm found in the human intestine. The adult females measure between 20 to 35 cm, while adult males measure 15 to 30 cm.

The size of a parasite influences its life cycle stages and host interactions. Smaller parasites often reproduce rapidly and can infect hosts easily. In contrast, larger parasites may require more complex life cycles involving multiple hosts or specific environmental conditions for development.