#FOOD TO KILL INTESTINAL WORMS NATURALLY

[maisha-online]

How to Naturally Kill Intestinal Worms in Your Body?

Intestinal parasites can be a cause of concern for many individuals. These organisms reside in various parts of the body, primarily in the intestinal walls. Intestinal worms, also known as parasitic worms, are among the most common types of parasites that can infect humans. Amoebiasis, ascariasis, hookworm infection, and trichuriasis are some of the prevalent intestinal parasites. While there are…

[bogleech]

So first of all apparently that's comedian and artist "Sarah Squirm" who I somehow wasn't aware of before and probably designed it herself.

Second, boy is there a lot of confused information about the actual parasite!

If you're unclear on what exactly it is, no it did not "eat" part of his brain like headlines say, nor is it any natural "brain parasite."

I have a few posts about this, but the reason you can get tapeworms from raw meat is that a tapeworm life cycle is supposed to begin when a grazing herbivore or scavenging omnivore, like a cow or pig, swallows a tapeworm egg from contaminated vegetation or soil.

The larva that hatches from this egg migrates into the animal's flesh, embeds there and goes dormant, waiting to be swallowed by a predator. When the predator swallows this hibernating larva, it becomes the adult tapeworm; the more famous stage that hangs out in your intestines and absorbs nutrients from your digested food. This produces the eggs, which pass in feces, and make their way into dirty water....or spread around on unwashed hands.

Humans aren't a natural host for the first larval stage; we're a natural host for the *adults* of several species, meaning we're supposed to swallow the larvae embedded in raw meat.

RFK Jr, therefore, did not actually get his "pork tapeworm" from pork. He swallowed an egg that originally came out of someone or something's feces.

In the human body, the confused larva tries to migrate into the muscle tissue, but because we're built straight upright compared to any other mammal, they quite often end up in the brain by mistake, and since we aren't the right host for that stage, they just die there.

This is why those "straight from dirt to table" diets are a bad idea. We cook or at least wash things for a reason. Of course, that won't save you either if someone with an adult worm just doesn't wash their hands after touching their own butthole, and can leave the sticky, invisibly microscopic eggs on things like doorknobs, shopping carts or touch screens.

This also means that, to be honest, it's not actually fair to make fun of this like it's an embarrassing freak condition just because this guy sucks. This can happen to anyone regardless of their hygiene or lifestyle and is much more common than you would think. It can go unnoticed your entire life because it doesn't always cause serious problems you would seek help for.

...Or, when it does, it's not always obvious that they should check your brain for the presence of dead animals. I know that sounds like a wild way to word it but these are animals. Animals that can, regrettably for both of us, accidentally kill themselves in your brain.

Oh wow. An SNL costume designer really bothered to look up the correct group of worms and recreate an accurate scolex.

It would've been so easy to just make a generic worm-like slimy costume or a worm with a fictional monster mouth or something but no, this is the first time I've seen correct tapeworm anatomy in any media in fact

[wormsdyke]

Hi, was reading ur tags and I'm intrigued. You got any more interesting facts/examples of parasitism??

i would LOVE to talk more about parasitism!!! i’m by no means an expert but i think it’s super neat!!

something i didn’t know until studying ecology more is that finding parasites in an ecosystem can be an indicator of a really healthy environment! they fill an ecological niche, just like any other creature, and their absence would disrupt their community just like any other creature.

for example, i helped study a particular stream’s health by sampling fishes from it, then dissecting them and searching for parasitic worms. if i dissected a healthy adult bluegill and found it had heart worms, i might consider that a good thing for the stream’s biodiversity. it shows that the bluegill population is stable enough to produce healthy reproductive adults, and the worm population is stable enough to exist within the host body in a small enough capacity not to hinder its growth. win-win!

there’s a lot of parasites that are very careful in how they depend on their host! many spend their entire lives on/within a host’s body and rely on it for nutrition, so they need their host alive. (this is called endoparasitism - meaning the parasite lives inside the host body. the alternate is ectoparasitism - where the parasite lives on the host’s surface.)

some parasites move from host to host through the food chain, so they need to keep a low enough profile to be carried along. for example, a parasite might deposit its eggs onto the gills of an aquatic insect, where the eggs stay dormant and use the insect’s body as shelter. the eggs won’t develop and hatch until the host insect is eaten by a fish, giving the parasites a larger host body to grow into. they might develop into larvae in the fish’s heart and and just hang out there, remaining larvae, until the fish is eaten by a bird! now the parasite is in an even bigger host body, and it could mature into its adult form. it might make its home in the bird’s intestines, so its eggs can be dropped with the bird’s feces - and the cycle repeats!! the host organisms could live a complete life and successfully reproduce without the parasite causing it any problems!

not every parasite is that gentle though. there’s multiple millions of different parasitic species each with their own survival strategies, many of which are much more disruptive to the host. for example, some species of parasitic wasps have venom they can use to immobilize or affect the behavior of catterpillars, allowing the wasps to lay their eggs inside the caterpillar, sometimes completely filling the host body with eggs and killing it. so, you know, a bit less pleasant of an experience for the host.

i think it’s Loxothylacus panopaei (loxo), the parasitic barnacle that castrates mud crabs, laying their eggs in the host’s body and altering the hosts behavior to make it protect and nurture the parasitic eggs. in female mud crabs, this means they are prevented from laying their own eggs and instead care for the parasitic eggs. but get this - male mud crabs naturally have narrower bodies with no internal space for eggs, and no nurturing or protective behaviors for their own eggs. but when infected and controlled by loxo, male mud crabs’ bodies will widen to resemble the females, creating a space for loxo to lay eggs in them too. then the loxo causes the male crab to care for the eggs like a female would. this means loxo essentially doubled the amount of hosts it can use, and it reproduces crazy fast with this strategy. loxo’s intense and effective reproductive strategy means it’s spreading fast, invading regions where the crab populations haven’t evolved to have any defense against the parasite, and mud crab populations are in danger because of it. there’s ongoing efforts to study the interactions between loxo and mud crabs and to protect vulnerable populations in the chesapeake bay region.

compared to bluegill example, it just goes to show how much diversity there is among parasites and their impact. the heart worms in the bluegills and the barnacles on the mud crabs employ crazy different strategies with crazy different effects on their hosts. but they both have to have a degree of caution with their hosts - maintaining a population at the ecosystem’s carrying capacity requires the parasite to infect as many hosts as it can, but leave enough hosts alive long enough to reproduce so that the future generations of parasites will have hosts too. ecology is just a constant series of cost-benefit analyses and evolutionary microadjustments - how much can we take, but still ensure our children will have enough to survive?

parasitism is so fascinating to me as a case study in the way we interact with the natural world and apply our own morals onto nonhuman organisms. i think it’s easy to think of parasites as bad, mean creatures. i remember learning about forms of symbiosis in grade school science, where mutualism (where both of the organisms benefit from their interactions) was described like a happy friendship between two animals, and parasitism sounded like bullying. and i completely understand that gut reaction - seeing a deer turned pale and sickly from ticks draining their blood makes my heart ache, and i don’t think it’s wrong to feel that way. i don’t think compassion for the world around us is ever a bad thing. but i think it can be easy to follow that heartache into a somewhat pessimistic path. like, Cryphonectria parasitica (the fungus that causes chestnut blight) doesn’t have an evil plan to kill a chestnut tree. it’s an organism which has a sole motive of survival and reproduction, and parasitism is the method it’s evolved to achieve that.

anthropomorphizing can sometimes keep us from remembering that wildlife conservation cannot be limited to animals we think are cute. creepy crawlies have to be included in conservation efforts because excluding any member of an ecosystem disrupts every member of the ecosystem. we see this in cases like the absence of keystone species creating havoc down the food chain (think wolf restoration efforts in yellowstone) but similar problems can happen when we lose primary consumers from food chains too.

that’s not just a theoretical statement - there’s something like a 50% decrease in insect numbers globally caused by habitat loss, climate change, pollution, etc. i think education about invertebrate ecology and parasitology is so important in destigmatizing them so we can afford them the compassion and efforts they deserve to protect them. i love this ted talk by danae wolf, a conservation photographer who focuses on insects and spiders, where she expands on this topic. it’s not specific to parasites, but i think the insights she has are applicable there as well and overall worth the watch!

anyways!!!!!!!!! thank you so much for this ask!!!!!! i love ecology and parasitology and wildlife conservation and was so excited to write a short essay about it i hope you don’t mind!!!!!!!! again i’m no expert im just autistic with half a degree in wildlife conservation but it’s a joy to talk about and i would love to hear from others if anyone has things to add :D

[ironymous]

Garlic kills parasites which cause cancer?

Garlic kills parasites which cause cancer? Cancer is said to be caused by PARASITES? Garlic is known for killing parasites …Garlic also detoxifies the body and protects against oxidation caused by parasite toxins.11 foods that kill intestinal worms naturally | The Times of India

[meowk9]

Types of Worms in Dogs: Symptoms, Prevention, and Treatment

As a dog owner, it's important to be aware of the various types of worms that can infect your furry friend. Worms are common in dogs and can cause a range of health issues if left untreated. In this article, we will cover the different types of worms in dogs, their symptoms, how they are transmitted, prevention methods, and treatment options.

Types of Worms in Dogs

There are several types of worms that can infect dogs, including: Roundworms Roundworms are the most common type of worm found in dogs. They are long, thin, and white in appearance, and can grow up to several inches in length. Tapeworms Tapeworms are flat, segmented worms that can grow up to several feet in length. They are often transmitted through fleas or by ingesting infected prey. Hookworms Hookworms are small, thin worms that attach to the lining of a dog's intestine and feed on their blood. They can cause anemia and other health issues if left untreated. Whipworms Whipworms are thin, whip-like worms that live in a dog's large intestine. They can cause diarrhea, weight loss, and other health issues. Heartworms Heartworms are a type of parasite that live in a dog's heart and lungs. They are transmitted through the bite of an infected mosquito and can be fatal if left untreated.

Symptoms of Worms in Dogs

The symptoms of worms in dogs can vary depending on the type of worm and the severity of the infection. Some common symptoms include: - Diarrhea - Vomiting - Weight loss - Bloated stomach - Anemia - Coughing - Lethargy - Itching around the anus If you notice any of these symptoms in your dog, it's important to take them to the veterinarian for a diagnosis and treatment.

Worms in Puppies

Puppies are especially vulnerable to worms and should be dewormed regularly starting at 2-3 weeks of age. Some common types of worms in puppies include roundworms, hookworms, and tapeworms. It's important to monitor your puppy for symptoms of worms and to take them to the veterinarian for deworming as needed.

How Do Dogs Get Worms?

Dogs can get worms from a variety of sources, including: - Eating infected prey - Drinking contaminated water - Contact with contaminated soil - Ingesting fleas or other parasites - Mother-to-puppy transmission

Prevention of Worms in Dogs

Preventing worms in dogs involves a combination of regular veterinary checkups, deworming medication, and good hygiene practices. Some tips for preventing worms in dogs include: - Regularly deworming your dog - Keeping your dog's living area clean and sanitized - Picking up your dog's feces promptly - Avoiding contact with other dogs who may be infected - Treating your dog for fleas and other parasites

Natural Remedies for Worms in Dogs

There are some natural remedies that may help to prevent or treat worms in dogs, such as: - Feeding your dog pumpkin seeds, which contain an amino acid that can help to expel worms - Adding garlic to your dog's food, which may help to repel worms - Giving your dog probiotics, which can help to maintain a healthy digestive system However, it's important to note that natural remedies should not be used as a substitute for veterinary care.

Treatment of Worms in Dogs

The treatment for worms in dogs depends on the type of worm and the severity of the infection. Your veterinarian may prescribe medication to kill the worms, which can be administered orally or through injection. In some cases, multiple rounds of medication may be needed to completely eliminate the worms. It's important to follow your veterinarian's instructions for administering the medication and to monitor your dog for any side effects. In some cases, additional treatment may be needed to address any secondary health issues caused by the worm infestation.

Conclusion

Worms are a common health issue in dogs and can cause a range of symptoms and health problems if left untreated. It's important to be aware of the types of worms that can infect dogs, their symptoms, and how they are transmitted. By practicing good hygiene, regular veterinary checkups, and deworming your dog as needed, you can help to prevent and treat worm infestations in your furry friend. Read the full article

[luchyinter]

9 Foods That Kill Intestinal Worm Naturally

[zwoelffarben]

You've got good points, and I don't want to derail to talk about different points but, I was recently rereading every story Jaya Ballard was in looking for good quotes. Didin't really find anything in that regard, but I did find the most moment in all the MTG stories I've read.

In Episode Three: The Locked Tower, there's this scene:

"That's all I needed," Stenn said. His voice, a sudden hiss, sounded horribly familiar. Stenn threw his robes from his shoulders. Surgery lines, previously invisible, deepened in his skin. The buttons on his shirt popped free as his chest seemed to swell and swell—only to burst, butterflying open, ribs splayed. Iron cords poured from his torso's cavity rather than intestines, weeping mucus and blood. His face, before all this horror, seemed ecstatic—as if he had finally found his purpose and fulfilled it. He raised his head, his eyes focused upward, his lips moving as in prayer. Hand-like claws emerged from his eyes and reached around his skull, to grip it. His metallic intestines slithered across the floor, hooking into the Thran powerstone, and his entire body stiffened. The powerstone's light throbbed, then dimmed, as Stenn consumed its energy. His mouth gaped, frozen in a voiceless whisper. He had converted his entire body into an antenna, Karn realized, and transmitted his hard-won knowledge to Sheoldred, confiding in her the sylex's location. Its false location.

It depicts the joy and bliss a phyrexian sleeper agent feels upon learning awakening to their nature having served their purpose. But then juxtapose it with another scene from Episode 5: A Whisper in the Wind, and you quickly see why I think the latter is the most moment in MTG's story that I've ever read.

"Finally." Ajani's voice sounded distorted, not with bloodlust's growl, but . . . mechanical. Karn turned toward his friend. Ajani bared his teeth in an agonized grimace. He flattened his ears and clenched his good eye shut. His skin undulated, as if worms crawled beneath his fur's surface. Jaya made a noise of disbelief. Teferi stepped forward. No—Ajani couldn't be— Ajani's good eye widened with horror. He shook his head in denial and mouthed no, no, no gripping his own arms as if he could restrain the Phyrexian fibers beneath his skin and prevent them from emerging. But they engorged, ripping open muscle and fur, to reveal a sleek, dense Phyrexian musculature that had been installed beneath his own. Ajani had been compleated. He was the spy, the traitor. He'd betrayed them to Sheoldred.

This moment with Ajani is the most horrific thing I've read in a long time, because it's basically phrogging inside your mind.

To riff on de carte: You think but you are not.

To quote Pointy Hat: "So one of my biggest fears is phrogging. Nope not with an 'F' with a 'PH.' Phrogging is the act of someone living in your house without your knowledge... I'm talking about a person literally living in the place you live without you knowing. Hiding in your attic, in the vents, in a closet you don't use often, and coming out when your away, or worse sleeping, and kinda living their life, eating your food, hastily hiding behind your couch as you get up at 4 am to go to your fridge and eat shredded cheese out of the bag. This happens. In real life."

In this moment we see the reaction the dreaming self has to the sleeper agent's true self awakening. The moment of denial. The futile attempt to fight it (you're only in this position because a stronger version of you already lost this fight). The realization that this intruder in your mind isn't even an intruder but the true self waking up and taking control away from you, a mere convient fiction written so they could better position themselves a sabatour to what you believed in, as they ready themselves to kill the people you considered family and undo the effort you put into resisting the people you considered enemies.

The horror of the phyrexians is in their phrogging of the ego. Stranger I Do Not Know You Caught in the Queen Spider's Web. The idea of being turned against your will into something else which is then greatful to have been transformed? That fucks severely.

And I'd quiet rightly upset if that their very interesting storyline's been snuffed out prematurely. I don't want the phyrexians to win: If I came face to with phrexia I'd be on the resistance until I wasn't me anymore. But, if I'm reading this correctly and they lost in the All Will be One storyline (compleat anihilation heh), then they lost way too quickly, especially because wotc has been rushing their stories and putting out too much too quickly.

seriously though now that I've worked out and calmed down a bit, the post I'm actually wanting to make:

a few people have mentioned they're surprised by how much they've ended up liking Phyrexia. i see a lot of, like, "this started out ironic but now I kind of love them???" floating around.

my theory is basically that ǩaπa š’iimashaǩ *ahem* that you can't really worldbuild a faction to the degree that they have and keep it from becoming interesting in its own right. Once you're inventing sub-factions and intrigue and gossip and assimilation/conversion stories that aren't completely horrific, even if the culture is clearly villainous, you've got complexity and nuance starting to peek through the cracks and someone's gonna notice and like it.

If you've gone so far as to invent a conlang... yeah, "this isn't going to have any fans in its own right" is dead, you killed it. bye.

in the case of phyrexia specifically: body modification is a thing. actual cyborgs exist. i, the person typing this post that you are reading, likely qualify as one on at least some definitions. characters are metaphors for real things. cultures are metaphors for real things.

so you're going to get some people who experience or understand those things vibing with the culture you've created, as soon as you make it more nuanced than ARG BLARG.

and that's not the only reason people have or want body modification or transformation. or the good old "rite of passage that involves pain and fear and yikes but when i'm done i get $status."

those are... all things people can like and invest in without agreeing with yawgmoth or elesh norn.

it's a feature, not a bug.

[theramseyloft]

Rescues in Quarantine

The most recent of these three arrivals is graphically injured.

Photos of the injuries are under the cut, but detailed descriptions are visible at the bottom of this post.

Glacier 2/7/22

Arrival Day

NPA 17 8 BA 2176

Ice Pigeon, Clean legged

Blue Barless cock

PMV and Paratyphoid boosters administered 3/6/22

Owner surrender.

A very husky 304g on arrival.

Moderately infested with lice, both Capilaria and Strongyloides, and a mild infestation of asymptomatic Trich.

He was, paradoxically, overweight, and dangerously thin.

He and the other bird that came in with him were fed on a fruit and nut wild bird seed blend for wood peckers and squirrels, most of which pigeons either can't swallow, or can't digest.

What they could both swallow and process in that blend is extremely high in sugar and fat.

Pigeons (Specifying Columba livia) can neither taste, nor process sugar. Especially not fructose!

It is not part of their ancestor's natural diet, nor was it introduced during the long process of domestication (Rock doves are almost exclusively seed eating, and grain was a food humans grew in abundance, do their diet didn't change as they were domesticated) so their organs have not adapted to process it, and they react to sugar in much the same way as a human with severe type 2 diabetes.

Fat is a vital dietary staple for pigeons, but not on it's own! Their diet should only be 4-5% fat.

Birds do not have space for much excess fat distribution, and they don't have a diaphragm.

Excess fat deposits usually form along a Pigeon's sides and around their liver and intestines, which puts pressure on their organs and eventually makes breathing hard.

He's been put on the weight restoring diet because he really needs his muscle tone built back up.

We've cleared out all but the last few bastions of the Strongyloides.

And he's down to 262.5g, which is faster weight loss than I wanted, but on the low end of ideal body condition for his breed.

He won't go anywhere until the worms are completely gone, and I'd like to see his breast muscle fill out a lot more.

Berg 2/7/22

Arrival Day

Ice Pigeon, Clean legged

Blue Barless

PMV and Paratyphoid boosters administered 3/6/22

Sex unknown

Same Owner surrendered.

Berg came in at what should have been a perfectly healthy 271 grams, but their keel felt like a butter knife.

It took them three days to even attempt to eat.

They were mildly infested with lice, but frighteningly heavily infested with Strongyloides and Trich!

Trich eats epithelial cells, and eventually cause painful lesions in the throat that make birds unwilling to swallow solids.

If they get into the trachea, the biofilm they form can block it off completely and kill the bird through suffocation.

I have a scorched earth policy in regards to Trich!

Between his garbage diet, the protozoan colony making eating painful, and the absolutely monstrous gut load of worms eating everything they could get down, Berg is a half step up from skeletal in that photo.

Feathers hide the body condition of a bird very well, which is why you absolutely must get hands on it to fully assess a pigeon in need of rescue.

Berg's lice and Trich have been cleared up,

But we've only knocked the worm infestation down from unbelievable to about what we expect to find in a new rescue.

Their throat is still very tender and while they do get more food down than they did, it isn't quite enough yet.

Their arrival weight is strongly suspected to be water retention, as they lost it very fast when their diet changed.

They are down to a worrying 237g. that seems to, at least, be entirely muscle.

Physical therapy will begin hopefully with in the week.

Storm 2/11/22

Arrival Day

Feral

Sooty Blue Check

This is the bird whose care has taken up the most significant amount of my time through out the month of February.

Her assessment photos will be under a cut because they are extremely graphic.

She came in weighing a skeletal 201.5g.

The inside left front toe was completely skeletonized by road rash, and a full third of the foot to which that toe attaches was ground off.

The left side of her beak has been extensively cracked into the sinus cavity.

And the left femur has been snapped nearly in half, with the two sections of bone parallel to each other, but making no contact.

This bird was very nearly euthanized on assessment.

That kind of break, positioned where it is, will not heal.

Best case scenario, it will require amputation at the hip.

And in her condition on arrival, she would not have survived an attempted surgery.

Her vet and I agreed to see if we could get her up to a safer body mass, but that we would be ready to euthanize immediately if she stopped eating or struggled to breathe comfortably with her beak closed.

She sent us home with instructions to keep her on metacam and apply SSD to the road-rashed foot to prevent infection in the mean time.

About a week later, we almost brought her back in to be euthanized because she was hunched and fluffed as if extremely ill, only changing our minds at the last minute because she perked back up when the AC vent in quarantine was covered.

She lacked the body mass to maintain a steady temperature in her own.

She was so severely emaciated that she could not even support worms.

But she did have trich, which has been treated and since cleared up.

We have not attempted to treat the lice, simply because her condition has been so delicate up to this point.

As of her most recent weigh in, she is up to 254g.

She has an assessment appointment this Friday to see where we go from here.

If she is assessed to be likely to survive it, we will begin preparations to get her bad leg amputated.

We will need to take her to UGA to get the procedure done, and it's $200 just to get a small animal in the door to be looked at.

I do not know what surgery will cost on top of that, so I will be selling hand made jewelry and boxes of craft feathers to raise funds.

Please bear in mind that there is a chance that she will still need to be put to sleep even if the surgery is successful.

If she ends up unable to adapt comfortably to movement on one leg without the weight of the other for balance, euthanasia will be the only kind course of action remaining.

Skeletal inside left front toe poking out of severe road rash.

Abrasion to the elbow of the left wing.

Impact break along the beak, crunching into the sinus cavity.

Break after scab and loose bone had been cleared so she could breathe.

Yes, that is her sinus cavity that you can see into.

Xrays showing her hideously broken femur

[waywardrose13]

Crimson Leaves- Chapter One: Croatoan

Masterlist // Series Masterlist

Crimson Leaves- Zombie Apocalypse AU mini series

Pairing: Dean Winchester x Reader

Summary: The dead have risen. Amid a global pandemic that causes the dead to prowl the Earth, a leader of a small camp in North Carolina fights for survival. Y/N Y/L/N was certain of three things: One, only a bite would turn you. Two, the brain must be destroyed in order to completely kill the thing. Three, trust no one. When a stranger is brought to her camp half alive, Y/N must make the decision to throw him to the walkers, or let the mystery man heal within the gates. As Dean Winchester recovers from a zombie attack, he worms his way into the camp, and eventually into Y/N’s heart. Love is a dangerous game, especially when it’s played with the dead.

Warnings: Angst, language, zombie apocalypse, talk of sex, talk of injuries, zombie attack. Not enough editing to satisfy me. I need a beta lol

Word Count: 4,600 on the dot baby

A/N- Hey, look at that. My first AU series. I hope y’all enjoy! Also written for @spnaubingo​ (Square filled: Free Space) // @spndeanbingo​ (Square filled: Free space)

Tags are still open until next Wednesday before the second chapter is posted (5/27/20 by noon). Send me an ask for a tag:)

The camp was silent.

The sun had not yet risen, the sky still dark and full of stars overhead, everyone still asleep in their tents and cabins. Y/N knew people would be waking soon, the early birds up and ready to go around five thirty. The first of the days’ jobs would begin at six, and soon after, the whole camp would be up and going.

Which is why Y/N left at four.

Before the whole world went to shit and the dead began to rise, she was never a morning person. She loved the late night hours. There was something so calming about the night. Most people were asleep or falling asleep, yet she would be up under the moon. She would sleep late in the day and work well into the night.

That is, until the world went to shit, of course.

At the beginning, most people thought it was some sort of widespread hysteria. Videos began to surge around the internet of people, seemingly dead people, up and walking, half rotting and in decay. It wasn’t until more and more people began to turn did everyone realize it was real.

Once people began to turn, everything went to hell. The internet soon shut down since web servers and power plants were no longer being worked on. Some areas still had electricity through turbines and solar panels, however major cities had gone dark. Whole towns were abandoned, others ridden with the dead. Bottled water was a life source. Unless an area had well pumps. If you were in one place for a while and there was no risk of zoms, boiling water was also a way to get drinking water. But it was tedious to boil and then let it cool before having to move again.

There were three things Y/N was absolutely certain. One, a single bite could turn you. Scratches don’t matter, unless they get infected, because unless you have antibiotics, you’re dead. The only thing that will kill you and inevitably turn you is a bite. Or, if you somehow die after getting scratched, whether it be infection or a fucking bear attack, you’ll turn. 

Two, a shot to the head is the only way to absolutely kill it. Since they’re already dead, any sort of lethal wound or dismemberment won’t kill it. But for some bizarre reason, they still need their rotted brain. So unless you want to turn, a shot to the head will do it.

Finally, number three. Don’t trust anyone. If you were the type of person to not be so trusting before the apocolypse, congragu-fuckin-lations, you’re all set. No one is trustworthy out there. One minute you find a breather, thinking you’ll be working together to stay alive, the next minute they’re stabbing you in the back to steal your supplies. Literally.

It’s survival of the fittest. Risks are the only thing that could both keep you alive or kill you. Unfortunately, anything you do in the apocalypse is a risk. The only way to stay a breather is by sticking to yourself.

Y/N didn’t follow her own rules.

She had been alone for the first two years. She hopped from town to town, hunkering down in abandoned homes, barricading herself in for days. Once the town was ridden with walkers, she’d bounce to another, repeating the cycle over and over. She didn’t know exactly what happened to her family. Her family home was empty except for the few walkers on the property. She had hope that they were alive somewhere, but she knew that wasn’t likely. Still, she kept hope that they were still alive and kicking, maybe in a camp of their own. 

She had barely turned nineteen before the apocalypse. The college she had been attending was a couple hours from home. By the time she made it there, her family was already gone.

Now at twenty-three, Y/N found herself hardened and impermeable. 

She had met a small group of breathers in an empty town down somewhere in North Carolina. They invited her back to their camp. Y/N didn’t trust them of course, but she was starving and on the brink of death. They gave her food, a proper bed, even a damn cold shower. She came to realize the camp was a good one, the people kind and giving, the leaders looking out for their own. So she stayed.

She had quickly become a fond face in the camp. She worked for her spot there, becoming a runner. The runners were the ones who went out for supplies each day. The camp itself was from an old sports sleep-away camp for highschoolers. There weren’t enough cabins for everyone, so the leaders, runners, elders, and families with small children inhabited them. One was only for medical, a makeshift clinic run by an ex veterinarian. The kitchens were in another building near the locker rooms, and the farms were out in the fields. Y/N had been given the rundown after she was taken to the camp. Fences were built by the founders of the camp, traps set all around the perimeter to catch walkers. There was 24 hour surveillance, armed guards standing at posts in the trees all throughout the day, taking shifts.

When Y/N had first arrived, there were only eight people in the camp, including an old acquaintance of hers from college. However, she worked to recruit people, along with the other runners, and after a year of her living at the camp, the number grew to nearly one hundred. She had shown strong leadership skills on the runs, being promoted quickly by the founders to runner one, head of runners. 

The founders had gone out in search of more camps with a few of the other runners one day, and never returned. After a few days, one of the founders was seen out in the woods, an arm missing and intestines pouring from his abdomen.

A unanimous vote was taken and Y/N was elected leader of the entire camp. 

And here she was, sneaking out of the camp at four in the morning in order to go on a supply run. She was no longer runner one, or a runner for that matter, but she still went out in search for supplies. People would give her lists of what they were in dire need of, and she would find it. As leader of the camp, she felt as though it was her duty to still go out and do what needed to be done. Runners would get things that would benefit the camp as a whole, but there were people who needed specific things. A family was nearly out of baby formula. A woman needed a pregnancy test. One man was nearly dead from asthmatic fits. 

Y/N followed the marked trail into town. Small flowers had been plucked from the forest and planted in a way that runners would know where to go. Walkers weren’t common around the camp. Traps kept most of them away and the camp itself was deep in Pisgah National Forest. The city of Brevard was located at the entrance of the forest. It took about ten miles to get there, nearly four hours on foot with the mountainous terrain. However, hidden within the confines of the trees two miles from camp was a Jeep. Runners used the Jeep to get to town quicker, keeping it far enough from camp that if there were any walkers that followed the sound, they’d be caught by the traps set before they could even make it to the Jeep itself.

Although the camp was protected, the occasional walker would still be spotted. The fences kept them out of the grounds, but the rotting hominids would frighten the residents. Guns were only fired in dire situations for two reasons; amount of ammunition and the sound. Guards were armed with both guns and bows. Crossbows were the most resourceful, but harder to find. Longbows were higher in availability. A few compound bows were scored during a couple runs as well. Archery was a needed skill for both guards and runners. There would be the occasional runner who was bitten or an elder who passed simply of old age. Sometimes infection. But it was a rarity in the camp for anyone to pass on. Most people were younger, under the age of fifty, and the elders were all in great shape physically and internally. 

Again, survival of the fittest. Natural selection had taken its course early on.

Once Y/N made it into the Jeep, she fit her arm through the bow and ducked her head through it, allowing it to go cross-body. A pistol sat on her lap and her rifle was slung over her shoulder onto her back. She started the Jeep, wincing as it roared to life, and took off towards town.

It didn’t take her long to get there, and she quickly put the Jeep in park beside the department store she and the runners frequented. The store was picked clean for the most part. Food had been taken immediately, along with toilet paper, paper towels, and basic hygienic necessities. The shelves barely had anything, however the storage in the back of the store was plentiful. Seemed as though even during the apocalypse, people hadn’t thought to go back there. Maybe it was their subconsious morals, or simply were too dumb to think of it. Y/N’s morals had drastically changed during the time of the walkers, and she had a whole camp to think about.

She wondered what the camp would do once the back storage was picked clean as well. She didn’t want to think of that, knowing she’d have to venture further into the city. The first half was relatively empty, the other half, not so much. The retirees and blokes that were unfortunate enough to fail to get out of town continued to inhabit that part of the city. The camp had already lost three runners in their expedition to the “dark side.” She didn’t want to lose anyone else.

She unzipped her backpack and began her search of items. She grabbed a few pregnancy tests, four boxes of formula, and other basic necessities she knew people were starting to run low on. Her bag wasn’t too big, but she was able to fit a good amount of toiletries and the items on her requested list before she made her way to the pharmacy.

Like the rest of the store, the pharmacy had been ransacked. Cold and cough medicines, pain medicines, and anything of the sort was nowhere to be found anymore. However, a couple Albuterol inhalers were found within the mess of pill bottles and medication boxes. Y/N also grabbed a thing of eczema cream she had found. She knew a child in section one began to break out in a bad rash, and a rash of her own had begun to creep up on the backs of Y/N’s knees and the dips of her elbows.

Once her bag was packed to the brim, she zipped it up carefully.

Something crashed somewhere in the store.

Y/N jumped, immediately slinging her bag onto her back and unbuckling the buckle of her gun sash, holding it out in front of her. Her bow was hidden in the seat of the Jeep, and a gun would be easier to use in a store anyway. Walkers were never found inside, nor were people. No one ever came down this way and the doors were barricaded so only people could figure out how to get in.

She heard more clattering in the distance. Y/N slowly began to make her way towards the exit, ears and eyes on alert. She had her knees bent in case she needed to run, gun ready to be cocked and fired. Once she made it to the front of the store, she noticed one of the barricades had been pulled apart but not put back together. Not a runner from camp, however Y/N didn’t think a walker would be smart enough to pull apart a barricade.

She didn’t want to stick around to find out. She needed to get back to camp and begin the days’ duties and scheduling.

Slipping out the door, she rushed to the Jeep, starting it up quickly and peeling out of town and into the forest. She followed the road, turning off it once she reached the two miles till camp mark. She parked and turned off the Jeep a little ways off the main road, reapplying the branches and leaves over the Jeep, before heading deeper into the forest, following the flower marked path.

The gates were opened for her once she got to camp, closed and latched once inside, and she let out a deep breath.

Safe and sound.

By the time she had finished dropping off the requested items and toiletries, it was around seven. Residents of the camp began to wake as the sun rose. The first runners were suiting up and laying out their game plan. Y/N was getting ready for the daily meeting in the compound’s “control center.”

“How’d the run go today, Lord Commander?”

Y/N let out a sigh. She turned around from the map she was currently marking, narrowing her eyes at the man who had just walked in.

“I thought I told you to stop calling me that.”

Luke grinned. “And I thought I told you that it was your own fault for giving me the books in the first place. Now you gotta deal with it.” He reached over to ruffle her hair, eliciting a groan from the woman he was teasing. “Besides, you love it. You just act like you don’t.”

A smile hinted on Y/N’s face. “Okay, yeah I do.”

Luke laughed, taking his seat at the table. “Where’s the rest of the watch?”

Y/N checked the clock hung up on the wall. It was dusty and cracked, but worked just fine with fresh batteries. Batteries weren’t easy to come by, but she had stacks of them in the cabinets within the command center.

“They should start arriving soon. If not, fuck ‘em. We’ll start the meeting without them.”

Luke shrugged, reaching into his jeans pocket for a cigarette. He lit it, took a long drag, and blew the smoke over the map. He held it out to Y/N, who shook her head in decline.

“Mornin’ campers!”

“Hey, Steve.”

A tall man with a long red beard and curly strawberry hair ducked into the cabin. A wide grin was on his face, long arms outstretched. “How are we this fine morning?”

Luke let out another puff of smoke. “Tired and horny.”

Y/N’s face screwed up. “Oh, Luke- come on.”

Steve chuckled. “I heard ya, brother.” 

“What, you and Lana haven’t done anything for awhile?” Luke asked.

“Ran outta condoms,” Steve said. “Medical said that condoms are first come first serve. They’re clean out of them. So uh, Y/N, might wanna talk to your runners about that.”

“They do the best they can,” she said, marking a few things on the map. “Just do it yourself and be done with it.”

“It’s not that simple,” Luke said. “Now I know you don’t get it since you’re the Virgin Mary-”

“Hey!”

“-But sex is different than just whackin’ off,” Luke said. He held his hands up as a, ‘what can I say’ gesture. “Humans are sexual beings. I don’t know how you have gone so long without getting any.”

“I was nineteen when all this shit started and I had never had a boyfriend, and I don’t exactly have time to find a partner now.”

“Uh, hello?” Luke said. He gestured to himself, raising a brow. “Willing participant right here.”

Y/N made a face. “No thank you.”

Luke frowned. “Oh why not? I’m great at sex!”

“No he’s not.”

A new voice chimed in. A pale head of hair ducked into the cabin. Taller than the majority of the men in camp, Alice grinned down at Y/N, giving her a pat on the shoulder as she took a seat at the table beside Luke. He gave her a hurt look.

“I mean, he’s not bad,” Alice said. “But he’s not as good as he says he is.”

“Wow,” Luke said. “I didn’t hear you complaining.”

Alice shrugged. “I wasn’t. I hadn’t gotten any dick in months. You’re good, just not great.”

Luke smirked. “Wanna help me get better?”

Alice raised a brow. “Seriously? You just asked Y/N to bang, now you’re asking me?”

“Smooth, dude,” Steve said, finally taking his seat.

Luke went bright pink, looking at both women sheepishly. “I mean… yeah?”

Alice took a deep breath, staring at him for a moment. “Alright, fine.”

He perked up. “Wait really?”

“Yeah, why not,” she said. She gave Y/N a look, the leader chuckling behind her hand. Steve gave Luke a fist bump, Alice rolling her eyes.

“Where’s Mikela and Richard?” Luke suddenly asked. Mikela, who was now runner one, and Richard, head of medical facilities, were missing from the meeting. Y/N checked the clock again, furrowing her brow.

“I don’t know,” she said. “They’re never late.”

Alice pulled her curls back into a bun. “Maybe someone from the run this morning had an accident?”

Y/N shook her head. “They’re supposed to report to me immediately after getting medical,” she said. “The first runners should’ve returned half an hour ago.”

That’s when the horn blew.

One blow means a runner (or runners) approaching. Two blows means stray breather. And three blows means a walker.

There was one blow, and two blows thirty seconds later. Which meant both runner and breather.

The group within the cabin jogged out to the front gates, wondering what the hell was going on. Not only were the runners extremely late, but they had a newcomer with them. Newcomers were to be inspected of bites and interrogated outside the gates. Mikela was runner one, she knew this, yet she disregarded the rules anyway.

“This better be good,” Alice muttered.

As the group approached the gate, they noticed Mikela, runner three and runner six, Matthew and Gary, carrying in a man half unconscious.

“We could use some help over here!” Mikela barked. Alice and Steve immediately ran over to help the others, Luke staying back with Y/N. 

“What’s going on?” Y/N asked.

“Found a breather outside the warehouse on our run,” Matthew said. “Zoms surrounded ‘im. He was barely fightin’ ‘em off by the time we got to ‘im.” His voice was shaky, his southern accent more prominent when he was anxious. “We loaded ‘im into the Jeep and brought ‘im back here.”

“He’s got a serious gash on his torso,” Mikela said. “If we don’t get it sewn up, he’ll die, and he’ll just be another addition to their fuckin’ army of the dead.”

Y/N let out a deep breath, brows slightly furrowed in thought. “Get Richard to inspect him. Don’t do anything until he does.” She looked pointedly at Richard. “I mean it, Rich. Make sure he’s not bitten.”

“Whada we do if he’s bit?” Matthew asked.

Y/N’s eyes flashed to the Georgian. “Shoot him.”

“Boss-”

“I said shoot him,” Y/N interrupted Gary. “It’s like Mikela said. If he’s bit, he’ll just turn into one of them. So if he’s infected, take him out to the woods and put a bullet in his head.”

Gary swallowed thickly, a solemn silence washing over the group. The ones with the mystery man quickly shuffled to the medic cabin. 

“The rest of you.” Y/N addressed the other runners and guards. A couple of the farmers and cooks watched on. “You know your duties. Get to work.”

Murmurs were heard throughout the small crowd, people scattering to do their daily duties. Luke looked up at Y/N.

“I’ve known you for a long time, Y/N,” he said. “I know that the world has changed you- changed everyone… but you were always so gentle.”

Y/N looked at the ground for a moment, before squinting her eyes up at the sky. “Yeah well. If you wanna survive-” she looked over her shoulder at her comrade “-you’d be more lethal too.”

Without another word, Y/N turned away, trekking back towards the command cabin, wondering just how much she had lost herself.

***

By midday, the sun was hot and blaring. Y/N stood out on the porch of her cabin, arms crossed, leaning against the railing of the steps. She watched as children laughed and played. She watched the farmers tend to the gardens down in the fields. Her eyes wandered up to the guards standing on duty up in the towers. The parents of the children sat outside their cabins, reading, knitting, or simply enjoying the sun. Singles either relaxed in the cool of their tents or tended to their duties for the camp.

It was peaceful. It was the only place she knew was completely safe from zoms, where for a second, she wasn’t Y/N the leader, or runner, or fierce warrior. She was simply Y/N.

“Hey boss.”

Y/N inwardly sighed at the break of peace. It was Matthew, a somber look on his face. 

“What is it?” Y/N asked. The unfolded her arms, stepping down the stairs onto the ground.

“The breather we found- he’s waking up. Bite free,” he told her. “Figured you’d wanna talk to ‘im.”

Y/N gave Matthew a nod, swallowing thickly. “Yeah, lead the way.”

Matthew led Y/N through the camp. People waved and said hello to them both as they passed. It was hot. The days were typically mild during this time of year, however the air had turned a fierce eighty-nine degrees. Save for the fields, the camp was covered in trees, however the mugginess below the leaves still left beads of sweat on Y/N’s brow and covered her skin in a sheer layer of moisture.

Matthew jogged up the steps to the medic cabin, Y/N following suit, ducking inside as he held open the door for her. At the sound of footsteps, the inhabitants of the cabin, save for the man lying on the cot, stood as their leader entered.

“Lord Commander,” Luke murmured. The man on the cot quirked a brow, staring at the woman who had just walked in.

Y/N turned to Richard, the medic taking off a pair of latex gloves.

“Matthew said he was clean,” she stated.

“No bites as far as I can tell,” Richard said. “Dislocated shoulder, bruised ribs, and a deep laceration on his abdomen. If the runners hadn’t gotten him here when they did, he’d be dead.”

“He’s stable? I don’t want him turning in the camp, Rich,” Y/N said. Her voice was low and authoritative. The man on the cot continued to gaze at her.

“He’s stable,” Richard confirmed. “He’ll have to be here for a few days for observation. After that, we can move him to the wing. A week later, he could have a tent.”

Y/N hummed, glancing over at the man. Her breath hitched in her throat as she did. 

He was incredibly handsome, one of the most handsome men she’d ever seen. Green eyes locked with hers, freckles dusting over tanned skin. A beard covered the man’s face, brown with almost a ginger tint to it. His hair was light brown, slightly spiked from sleep. His lips were full and pink, a hint of a smirk gracing them as he noticed her stare.

Snapping herself out of it before anyone else noticed her staring, Y/N gripped the back of a chair, swinging it around to face her, sitting in it with her arms up on the back, facing the newcomer.

“What’s your name?” She asked.

“Dean,” the man answered.

“What’s your full name?” Y/N asked.

“Dean Winchester.”

“You got a camp?”

“Nope. I’m a lone ranger.”

Y/N hummed. “What were you doing out by the warehouse.”

“Scouting,” Dean replied. “Needed some more ammo. Was running low on fresh water and batteries.”

Y/N cocked her head. “Zoms typically aren’t found in that part of town. Did you do something to attract them?”

“May have set off a car alarm trying to hotwire it,” Dean said.

“Moron.” Y/N heard Luke mutter under his breath. She shot him a glare.

“So what, you got what you needed and got jumped on your way out?”

“Yep,” Dean said. “Didn’t notice them at first. Then I was surrounded. Tried shooting at them, but there were too many. By the time your friends got there, I thought I was dead.”

Y/N thought for a moment. “You got a criminal record?”

Dean scoffed. “Few charges but nothing major.”

“Like what?” Gary asked.

Dean shrugged. “Couple of fights in my early twenties. I had a brother who I was very protective over. Got charged but never convicted. So technically yes,” he said. “Like I said, nothing major.”

“Got any other family?”

“Besides my brother, no.” Dean answered. “Don’t know where he is. He could be dead for all I know. I haven’t seen him in years.”

“How old are you?”

“Thirty-three,” Dean said. “How old are you?” He sent Y/N a wink.

“I’ll be asking the questions,” Y/N told him. “If we were to let you stay, would your strengths be better as a runner or a guard?”

Dean thought for a moment. “A guard.”

She sighed. “Look, we’ve got kids and families here. You get violent? You’re out. But we need the extra help. You seem strong. You fought off a pack of zoms and survived. You could be a valuable asset.”

Dean thought for a moment. “Has it occurred to you there may be a reason as to why I was a lone ranger?”

Y/N hummed, standing from her seat. She folded her arms over her chest.

“Far as I can tell, you didn’t fare too well at the end of your solo ride. Way I see it, you need security and you need a team,” she said. “You don’t wanna stay? Fine. As soon as you’re up and running, you can waltz your ass out of camp.”

She took a step toward him. “But if not, I’m Y/N. I’m the leader of the camp. You have any business, take it up with me or Luke, my second in command.” She nodded her head towards the freckled blond behind her. “Once you’re better, you’ll become a guard. You’ll have your own tent and designated locker in the men’s locker rooms near the farm. The locker rooms also have toilet stalls and showers, both with running water. You will get three meals a day and a shower everyday after your shift. If you have any sort of medical conditions, you’ll bring it up with Richard here. He’s in charge of all medications. If anything were to happen to you to impair your health or disable you while you’re on duty, you’ll be relieved of your duties and allowed to live the rest of your days within the camp. However, all incidents will be investigated. If we find you have self sabotaged, you’re out of here, got it?”

Dean gave her a nod. “You got it, Chief. Seems I’ll be sticking around then.”

Y/N smiled at him. “Great. Welcome to Camp Roanoake Dean.”

Chapter Two

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[fitlifecroc]

10 Amazing Health Benefits of Garlic

For decades, garlic has been a staple in kitchens. Because of its antibacterial and antiseptic qualities, this herb has curative and medicinal properties. Allicin, a compound found in garlic, gives it its beneficial properties. Minerals such as phosphorus, zinc, potassium, and magnesium are abundant. Garlic also contains a lot of vitamins C, K, Folate, Niacin, and Thiamine.

it's the organic sulfur compound allicin in garlic that gives it its pungent scent and makes it a good addition to your diet.

1. Good For Weight Lose

Garlic inhibits the expression of genes involved in the development of fat-storing adipose cells. It also boosts the body's thermogenesis, causing more fat to be burned and LDL levels to drop (bad cholesterol).

There is 10 Tips that Will Help you Lose Weight Fast and Naturally

2. Gives you Better Hair and Skin

Garlic's antioxidants and antibacterial properties will help you get rid of acne-causing bacteria and clean up your skin. According to one report, rubbing raw garlic on pimples will help them go away. However, you should be mindful that it can induce a burning sensation on your skin. If you're using some other products on your face, talk to your dermatologist before placing acne on it.

3. It Safeguards your Food

Fresh garlic has antibacterial properties that can destroy bacteria that cause food poisoning, such as salmonella and E.coli. However, garlic should not be used as a substitute for proper food hygiene and handling.

4. Garlic Dan Aid in The Reduction of Blood Pressure

A couple of cloves a day could help you avoid a trip to the cardiologist. “Garlic induces nitric oxide synthesis, which dilates blood vessels, while also inhibiting ACE (angiotensin-converting enzyme) activity,” Raj explains. (ACE inhibitors aid in the relaxation of blood vessels.) This can help to maintain normal blood flow and pressure.

Raj cites a recent review and meta-analysis published in Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine in February 2020, which found that taking Kyolic aged garlic supplements for three months reduced systolic blood pressure (top number) by around 8 points and diastolic blood pressure (bottom number) by 5.5 points, a similar effect to taking tylenol.

5. Immune System Booster

Who knew that consuming more garlic could help you improve your immunity? According to a study involving 41,000 middle-aged women, those who consumed garlic, fruits, and vegetables on a regular basis had a 35% lower risk of colon cancer. It's important to remember that the benefits came from raw and cooked garlic, not from supplements.

6. Improves Renal Health and Fights UTI

Fresh garlic juice has the ability to inhibit the growth of E. coli bacteria, which can cause urinary tract infections (UTI). It also aids in the prevention of kidney infections.

Garlic promotes hair growth, bone health, and liver health, as well as reducing wound infections. The majority of home remedies are only successful if garlic is eaten raw.

7. Enhances Mental Performance

Garlic's antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects help to keep the brain in good shape. It has been shown to be beneficial in the treatment of neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's and dementia.

8. Improves Digestion

The addition of raw garlic to one's diet will help with digestive issues. It is good for the intestines and helps to minimize inflammation. Intestinal worms can be cleared by eating raw garlic. The good news is that it kills harmful bacteria while protecting beneficial bacteria in the intestine.

9. Beneficial to Cardiac Health

Allicin, a compound contained in garlic, prevents LDL from oxidizing (bad cholesterol). This helps to lower cholesterol and boost heart health. Garlic intake helps to avoid thromboembolism by reducing the occurrence of blood clots. Garlic also reduces blood pressure, making it beneficial to hypertensive patients. More information on how to manage high blood pressure can be found here.

10. Garlic enhances the flavor of other healthy foods

Bazilian categorizes garlic alongside onions, herbs, and spices, stating that “garlic adds great flavor to foods, so it encourages us to consume more of the foods that we should be consuming more of, such as fruits, whole grains, lean proteins, and beans.”

According to the United States Department of Agriculture, adding spice with garlic will help you cut down on the amount of salt you use on your food while only adding 4 calories per clove.

Finally, don't overlook the importance of taste in your overall diet: “It can be more enjoyable, too, when we enjoy the food we eat and learn to listen to our satiety cues,” Bazilian says. Much more incentive to include garlic in your next meal!

[islanublar]

THE IMPORTANCE OF PALEO-VETS

Written by Zia Rodriguez

A world-class team of almost 40 veterinarians and 25 scientists used to work at Jurassic World, caring for the health of the dinosaurs, but most have since dropped off the radar. It is vitally important to foster this area of study once again so that we can ensure the dinosaurs’ well-being in the 21st century. The DPG hopes to shed light on the serious health hazards these wonderful creatures will face and how critical it is to support the science – and scientists – behind their care.

Despite their size and impressive strength, the dinosaurs inhabiting Isla Nublar are not immune to common illnesses. These creatures were brought to the modern world from vastly different conditions, spanning approximately 170 million years throughout the Mesozoic eras--naturally, such a drastic change in conditions brings with it a number of unique problems.

Responding to these concerns is a big part of the DPG’s mission. Once we’re able to safely move the dinosaurs from Isla Nublar, we are committed to establishing a center for paleo-veterinarians dedicated to ensuring that these magnificent but fragile creatures don’t succumb to modern pathogens in their next environment.

As many know, the dinosaurs’ very existence is the result of scientists pushing the boundaries of cloning technology, using the DNA of other modern animals to fill in genetic gaps. As a side effect of their advanced genetic makeup and the incubation phase of their lifecycle, many of the dinosaurs raised in labs suffer from a muted immune response, which requires extensive care to keep disease at bay.

The techniques used to care for dinosaurs were refined throughout Jurassic World’s operation, as was the study and research of how to kick-start the animals’ immune systems when they left the safety of the egg. Effective strategies were also put in place for treating dinosaurs that inevitably became sick or injured. The needs of these animals were unique, and largely unknown to the small team of paleo-veterinarians who were pioneers in this new frontier of zoological research.

Naturally, with different species come different potential threats. From osteomyelitis appearing in the distinctive intra cranial bone of the Parasaurolophus to a fungal infection that plagued the folds of a Dilophosaurus’ decorative frill, each animal had an entire spectrum of diseases that required fast diagnosis, expert treatment, and active monitoring.

With only existing knowledge of reptile and avian biology to reference, and a large amount of educated guesswork, the team (affectionately nicknamed “the Dino-Docs”) wrote the rulebook that would become the foundation for a new era of paleo-science.

At its pinnacle, Jurassic World was seen as the leader in veterinary practice for zoological theme parks across the globe. Each dinosaur on the island underwent a series of weekly health checks that covered both physical and mental well-being, with the results of each check-up digitally recorded. Here at the DPG, we’re using every possible resource to collect this vital data; so far, we’ve been able to recover information on a number of common illnesses known to affect dinosaurs (compiled for reference at the end of this article).

However, paleo-veterinary medicine is about so much more than treating illnesses. Its discoveries, drawing from some of our earliest subjects, provides us with insight into the future of the dinosaurs, ourselves, and the world we inhabit. Without the pioneering spirit of those who remain on the forefront of this diminishing area of research, the DPG wouldn’t be able to carry out its mission to save the dinosaurs.

Which is why, yet again, we turn to you. By supporting us, you’ll be funding the search for safe relocation areas and emergency medical centers where paleo-vets can work on the animals that have gone for years without the safety and care they once had.

So join the DPG today. Help us raise awareness of, and institutional support for, these selfless individuals who work tirelessly to protect our giant friends. It’s time to prove to the world that there are people everywhere, people who have never stepped foot on Isla Nublar but who recognize its significance to the Earth at large, who will do anything they can to support the science dedicated to saving the dinosaurs.

Common Diseases

Common Cold Virus

Description: A viral disease which affects the respiratory system. It’s transmissible through airborne moisture and close contact, and can spread rapidly within herds. It's generally non-fatal in modern animals; however, some dinosaurs’ immune systems have never encountered this threat, meaning that this small virus can put their lives at jeopardy and should be taken seriously.

Prevention and Treatment: There is currently no cure, but cases were reduced when the animals lived in healthy environments with clean air. Isla Nublar no longer fits that description.

Bumblefoot

Description: Inflammation of a dinosaur's foot caused when a cut or abrasion becomes infected, and then heals over. The resulting swollen abscess is very painful and reduces the animal's overall range of movement, and the odor that emanates from the swelling is also said to attract carnivores looking for an easy meal. This inflammation is more common in herbivore species such as Sinoceratops and Pachycephalosaurus.

Prevention and Treatment: Like modern elephants, herbivores like Triceratops and Brachiosaurus keep their hygiene at a high level with constant baths. Having access to a large, clean water source is a good preventative measure, as it enables the animals to clean any wounds on their feet as they wash themselves.

Ragged Tooth

Description: More common in predatory dinosaurs. This sickness can occur from infection from inside the gum line. If a carnivore breaks a tooth during a hunt, it can become rotten, spreading bacteria throughout the mouth and causing an overall breakdown of the soft tissue in the jaw. The dinosaur will often become dizzy and make fewer successful kills, risking death by starvation.

Prevention and Treatment: Dinosaurs tend to survive the loss of one or two teeth if they become infected, but it’s a very painful experience for them, and they should be constantly monitored and administered antibiotics until the infection has passed.

Bracken Fern Poisoning

Description: Bracken, a type of fern which has existed for more than 55 million years and which many herbivorous dinosaurs eat, can be dangerous when eaten in excess. If too much bracken is consumed, poisoning can occur, resulting in thiamine deficiency, sluggish behavior, and secondary infections.

Prevention and Treatment: The best way to avoid this problem is to remove the ferns from their habitat and replace it with a dietary alternative.

Hookworms

Description: Hookworms are a type of intestinal parasite from the roundworm group. The number of worms will typically determine the symptoms for the initial infection, which can include rashes, abdominal distress, and diarrhea. Infection can spread through contaminated dung or food sources.

Prevention and Treatment: Environmental hygiene is the most effective preventative measure against hookworms. If even a single case of this parasite is detected within a group, all specimens in the group must be treated. Once cleared from the animals, their habitat must be also treated so that infection does not reoccur.

Ticks

Description: Due to the long grasses and dense undergrowth covering most of the island, ticks have become a common and unpleasant issue for dinosaurs. While not necessarily dangerous by themselves, they can be a vector for further blood-borne disease; some rare tick species can also cause serious complications, including paralysis.

Prevention and Treatment: A thorough check of all rescued dinosaurs. Eco-friendly anti-tick sprays.

Rabies

Description: Contracted via contaminated meat or other infected animals, rabies is a killer and must be prevented at all costs. Though there is no record of an outbreak having occurred, the possibility of the disease making the leap to dinosaurs would be utterly devastating to what remains of the already dwindling population. A disease as virulent as rabies could cause extinction once and for all.

Prevention and Treatment: A sweep of the new territory (once established).

[watchdogg]

A Guide: Raw Feeding for Dogs

Don’t have time to make BARF? Not sold on it? If you want to know what dry foods are best check this out.

What’s on the menu? BARF (Biologically Appropriate Raw Food). This recipe is based off of Dr. Ian Billinghurst’s own recipe provided in his book Give Your Dog a Bone. Great read, would recommend.

However, there are a couple ingredients he discusses which have been recently proven as poor dietry choices for dogs. For example, he speaks of the inclusion of milk and garlic which have been discovered, through scientific study, to make dogs quite ill. Therefore the recipe I have written below excludes any ingredients I have found research on that are detrimental to your dog’s health.

BARF is essentially everything you would find in a grain-free dry dog food, but fresh!

BARF = 50% green mix + 50% meat (30% mince + 20% offal)!

DAILY INTAKE = 60% BARF + 40% meaty bone

I DO NOT APPROVE of the Canine Ancestral Diet or Prey Model diet, which is 80% meat. I have a seperate blog post discussing why (click here to find out more)!

EVERYTHING YOU MAKE MUST BE BLENDED TOGETHER INTO A CONSOLIDATED MUSH! Your dog has to eat everything, you must not give it the choice to pick certain things out of their bowl, it all has to go in their tummy! This is how we get to deficiencies!

I will post a seperate description of my exact routine, and how I measure out everything my girl needs as an example so you have something to compare to.

DISCLAIMER: If your vet has told you that your pet MUST eat a prescription diet due to health condition/allergy, please listen to them. Every health issue has causes and triggers, there are many, and I cannot possibly cover all of them in this post. Does this mean there aren't raw options for dogs with health issues or allegeries? No. There certainly are. For example, if your dog is allergic to wheat they can go on a wheat-free dry food OR BARF. But I cannot be responsible for your failings in proper research. SO, this means that if you have a dog with congenital issues, like kidney problems, please research into what that means before going against a prescription dry or wet food diet.

Appropriate vegetables include:

- Silver beet

- Bok choy

- Celery

- Carrots

- Sugar beet

Appropriate fruits include:

- Apples

- Oranges

- Blueberries

- Pears

REMINDER: you absolutely MUST vitamise fruits and vegetables. Your dog does not have molars like that of a horse for example, they cannot grind fibre, they use their molars for snapping large food items into smaller chunks. Herbivores chew for a reason. Plant cells are surrounded by a cellulose, and most guts do not have the enzymes required to dissolve cell walls, hence chewing. DOGS ALSO CANNOT DIGEST CELLULOSE, and they do not have the mechanics required to break down plant matter into a digestible form. I learned the function of teeth during my studies into paleontology, where dental analysis is vital. (1)

SUPPLEMENTS: TO BE BLENDED INTO YOUR BARF MIX 

the listed supplements contain the vitamins and omegas your dog needs to thrive. These vitamins already naturally exist in the vegatables and meats listed. HOWEVER, if your dog is not eating some kind of fish every day for example, then they need to be digesting at least flaxseed oil to make up for this. This is just one example. It is important to fill in any possible gaps, and these supplements make sure there aren’t any ;)

If you are feeding your dog fish oil you MUST also feed vitamin E oil, the dog’s body will use up stores of Vitamin E to process fish oil which oxidises very easily! If you are using one of the below supplements, you do not need to use fish oil. If you are using a supplement like megaderm or Omega blend, follow the directions on the bottle! So, this means don’t go adding it when you are making BARF, add upon feeding it to your dog.

SUPPLEMENTS INCLUDE:

- Megaderm (CONTAINS: vitamin B7, B6, A, E, omega 6&3) dosage instructions on bottle (can be bought on PetCircle)

OR

- Vets All Natural Omega Blend (CONTAINS: flaxseed oil (omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids), shark liver oil (omega-3 and vitamin A), sunflower oil (omega-6) and wheat germ oil (omega-3)) (can be bought on PetCircle)

OR

- just straight flaxseed oil (human-grade is the same stuff) 2 or 3 desert spoons

OTHER SUPPLEMENTS:

- Kelp powder (2-3 tsp) (contains: 60 different minerals and vitamins and 21 amino acids)

- Green tripe (contains: probiotics, essential fatty acids and digestive enzymes)

- Sardines (great for coat health)

- Tongue (fatty, good for active dogs)

- Green lipped muscle (aimed towards joint health, good for large breeds)

- Liver (contains vitamin A, B vitamins, iron, copper, zinc, essential fatty acids) 2 tblsp per day is recommended amount for medium dogs (I buy a pack of chicken livers (500g) and chuck it into the barf mix. This works out to be 17g perday)

DO NOT OVER FEED FATTY ACID SUPPLEMENTATION, keep to the recommended dose! Large quantities can cause Seborrhea oleosa (bad dandruff). It is possible to have too much of a good thing.

It is really important you do not overdose on any supplement. For example, glucosamine is great for old joints but it is also rated a top poison for dogs because of its potential for overdosing. (2)

WHAT MEAT AND ORGANS ARE BEST?

MEAT SHOULD NOT BE COOKED when fed to dogs. This decreases protein digestability and destroys essential amino acids such as lysine and methionine. That being said, meat is NOT a complete food, it is deficient in a lot of vitamins dogs need! So veggies are still a must.

Mince is great, but if you can find mince with ground bone included that would be even better. If you are living in Melbourne, The Saltiest Dog (in Thornbury) is a great store to visit to purchase such a thing. Try to stay away from ‘pet meats’, like those sold in Woolworths or Coles. They contain harmful preservatives (3). The cleaner/more human grade the better. Research into local raw food stores around you and ask about the meat they get in/what if any preservatives are in their meat.

Kangaroo is an environmentally friendly choice! They do not rely on the production of grain to survive, and they are indigenous to the land (their feet don’t compact soil and turn it infertile). It is the most humane way of harvesting red meat if you think about their lives up until the point of death.

The leaner the meat the better! Kangaroo is very lean! Turkey is another great option, but if you are afraid of salmonella, stay away from poultry. Variability of protein is not as important as what parts of the body you are feeding your dog. They need muscle, bone, and offal (tongue, heart, liver, etc.)!

I generally go by: 30% mince+bone & 20% offal.

BONES:

NEVER FEED COOKED BONES! They will splinter and cause internal injury.

Is it dangerous to feed raw bones? NO!

It is imperitive in the BARF diet that your dog is getting some kind of whole bone to eat EVERY DAY. But don’t be silly about it, think about your dog’s size. If you have a mini poodle, you should be giving it chicken necks, not beef weight bearing bones. The bones you give should be soft enough so that they don’t chip your dog’s teeth. This also means NO weight bearing bones till the dog is over 6 months old.

I have talked to customers at Petbarn who just happen to have silly dogs who won’t chew bones at all, and instead swallow them whole. If this is the case, please stick to turkey/duck/chicken necks. These are harder to choke on beause the bones are so tiny. Once again, if you fear potential bacteria or worm risks, freeze your meat before feeding (this will kill a lot of what you are scared of). DO NOT GIVE YOUR DOG FROZEN BONES, they will chip a tooth.

Bones act like fibre. They help everything move along in their intestines. They also contain vitamins and proteins they need. You can learn more about bone benefits in Dr. Ian Billinghurst’s book Give Your Dog a Bone.

I give my dogs a bone of some description every morning. Generally, it is a chicken carcass and once a week they get a roo rib or beef vertebrae (you can buy a bag of 'broth bones' from Woolworths which are great) to really get their teeth into.

It is really important that your dog is chewing on something every day. Whether it be a bone or a Kong/dental toy. It is imperitive for mental and dental health. The action of chewing for a dog is the equivelant of a human doing a sudoku or crossword.

HOW MUCH TO FEED:

This model is based off of the Raw&Fresh model which you can find on their website (https://rawandfresh.com.au/collections/treats), this also happens to be where I buy my bones from.

Essentially, you pick whether to feed 2-5% based on your dogs age and activity level. For example, senior dogs need to be eating more protein and fat because they lose muscle mass faster. A dog who has a high activity level needs more energy and a dog who is overweight should be fed less.

Generally, they should be getting 2-3%.

Whatever you decide on, this should be split into two meals. You'll find that two meals per day reduces their scavenging behaviour. I tend to feed the bone proportion in the morning and the patty mix at night.

The key to feeding your dog a raw diet is to WATCH. Watch your dog's weight. It is as simple as that. Watch how they put on weight, if they are becoming too skinny or overweight. Watch and adjust accordingly.

KEEP THIS FORUMLA IN MIND:

BARF = 50% green mix + 50% meat (30% mince + 20% offal)!

DAILY INTAKE = 60% BARF + 40% meaty bone

FEEDING LARGE BREEDS:

- BARF = time and money. Sometimes it can be unrealistic when you have a large breed.

- It can be a lot preparing a batch of food for a large breed, which can potentially be up to 2kg per day depending on how big the dog is. Ideally you would want to be making a batch that lasts the month, which we can individually pack and freeze. But with larger breeds that can get difficult when you are busy or you have a tiny freezer.

- Luckily their daily intake is not 100% BARF

- My GSD, Juni, requires 600g per day as a 30kg dog with a medium activity level. That means I'd need to make 18kg of BARF to last her a month. Yikes.

- I have found two ways around this:

- First of all, 600g is her daily intake, which means a bit of that (around 250g) can be meaty bone.

- I also cut some of her food with Ziwi Peak. This is an air-dried (NOT BAKED) dog food. Once the bone has been eaten, that leaves ~350g left to go.

- Her weight requires 350g of Ziwi Peak per day according to their feeding guide. Therefore, she gets 150g of Ziwi Peak and 150g of BARF

- I increase her BARF intake depending on the bone she gets

- The end result is I only have to make 4.6kg for the month if my life is turning out to be hectic and busy. Not to mention freezer space being an issue.

- When I find I have more time, this increases to 9kg and I don't need to feed Ziwi Peak at all.

1. You can learn more about dental function in mammals here:Smith, Kathleen, Wall, Christine. (2005). Ingestion in Mammals. In Encyclopedia of Life Sciences (Vol. 10, pp. 272-277). John Wiley Sons, Ltd. https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/Ingestion-in-Mammals-Wall-Smith/596099f8125d6ee16f40c858fe144613a225ae14

2. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/42594946_Accidental_overdosage_of_ joint_supplements_in_dogs

Nobles IJ, Khan S. Multiorgan dysfunction syndrome secondary to joint supplement overdosage in a dog. Can Vet J. 2015;56(4):361-364. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4357907/

3. https://kb.rspca.org.au/knowledge-base/are-preservatives-in-pet-food-products-a-concern/

[thehermitsforest]

The Hermit’s Forest

Chapter 5

The sun began to hide from the earth sending pink and purple streaks to comfortably hug the sky, encasing life within a soft warm glow that reflected off the marsh’s water pools, and the road turning them to embers. Eduardo’s burning feet had journeyed miles without a break, now that the pain was making its way up to his thighs, and his eyes were beginning to drift he found he could hold his tongue no longer.       “Cecil” Eduardo called gently dragging behind the endless spirits “I need to stop. I gotta sleep.”      “Oh” Cecil said and stopped and turned around, he looked around over the marsh in search of something “will you be okay on the road?”      “Yeah. It’s probably fine” Eduardo said and fell on to his arse without bothering to dust away any of the more uncomfortably spiked stones.      “Hmm?” Carry hummed turning to glance from Cecil to the boy “you are stopping for a human? Leave him or drag him, the night is no enemy.”      “Please don’t” Eduardo said desperately.      “I could take a nap” Cecil said sitting down as he waved Carry’s idea away.

 Carry sighed and fell down. His arms and legs laying down in front of him, the way a child would mimic a dead horse.      “Can spirits sleep?” Eduardo asked pulling out a blanket, and transportable campfire from his rucksack.      “My horses sleep so I sleep” Carry said “there is not much point in being conscious when they are not.” Eduardo nodded “I guess that makes sense” he said, a curious eye on Cecil but he hid the question.      “Where there are animals there is sleep, squirrels and raptors allow me to hibernate though I am not fond of it, if I could I’d see most of the seasons happily through dormancy.”      “You can go dormant?” Eduardo asked his eyes widening as he struck his fire alight “what’s that like?” Cecil crossed his legs, and tapped his lips “like floating, free of thought or experience, so it is impossible for me to be bored, the longer I am like it the faster time seems to go around me. I used to spend entire winters like that. But nowadays I have to wake every week and make sure people keep away. There  seem to be humans lurking around every corner and though I kill more than ever I still find more testing me.”      “It sounds peaceful though.” Eduardo said.      “My favourite thing to do is catch naughty humans in what I call, a dormant bubble. I can only have one at a time, but I can make them go dormant for years or a season, and oh their face when I release them!” He cackled “there is nothing I adore more!”

     “Cecil! That’s cruel.”      “I either do that or eat them” Cecil shrugged “so it is a kindness.”      “You are a monster” Eduardo said emptying out his rucksack “do either of you want food?”      “We don’t need to eat” Cecil said.      “I know, but I have a lot of food” Eduardo said standing up several jars of different colours.      “What’ve you got?” Cecil asked. Eduardo picked up each jar and carefully examined it.      “Yellow jam, red jam, mixed nuts, sausages” he said opening it and placing one in his mouth, he offered the jar to Cecil. He took one shaking the water off and popped it into his mouth.      “Tastes like human” Cecil said.      “It’s not human!” Eduardo said sharply.

     “Let me try, I eat a lot of humans” Carry said.      “I thought you said you were a horse” Eduardo said and handed the jar over the fire to Carry. Carry looked for a moment at the hand holding the jar, bright red with lumps blotted over the skin, a long scar down the centre of his wrist. Carry squinted at Eduardo.      “Are you going to take one or not?” Eduardo asked angrily.      “We used to be horses” Carry said finally answering him “now we just look like them, we’re omnivores, our actual scientific name is man eating horse.”      “Oh” Eduardo said “well if your peckish, you can have the whole jar.”      “Thanks, but I’m not hungry really” Carry said, taking one from the jar. He slowly took a bite from the sausage and looked suspiciously up at Eduardo.      “This is human.”      “It’s not human” Eduardo groaned opening up a jar of soft cheese, that he began to eat with a spoon “it’s pig.”      “You mean… the humans trapped in pig bodies?” Cecil asked.      “They’re pigs! Animals. Not humans.”      “I thought you were just looking after them, it would explain why your village has recently gone off it’s tits” Cecil said with a thoughtful finger prodding his lip.      “You’re suggesting they weren’t always bonkers.” Eduardo said disbelievingly given a shake of his head.      “Of course they weren’t.” Cecil said. Eduardo frowned at Cecil “very convincing but I know you like to mess with people. Pigs are animals.”      “No” Carry said “all their organs are identical to human organs, do you think thats just random?” Eduardo shrugged “all animals have organs, I bet even his horses have brains and hearts and things.”      “That’s true” Carry said.      “No, Eduardo, those aren’t normal pigs. Those are genetically engineered human clones from centuries ago. They are exactly the same as humans. They were designed that way to get around human right laws, and to smuggle them through borders, and because of a pigs features they cannot communicate or ask for help.”      “Fine then, where’s their human trapped in a pig body spirit?” Eduardo asked firmly checkmating him “they’ll surely be able to confirm your story.”      “No! They’re humans. Humans have their own spirits.” Cecil said, and Carry let out a a sharp laugh.      “Their own spirits? Humans don’t have a spirit! They aren’t anything at all. They’re parasites! Thats like asking intestinal worms where their spirit is, they are a function of science nothing more.”      “Then… why do humans sometimes get spirits of their villages and towns?” Eduardo asked Cecil.      “Humans have their own spirit, but their culture is what makes a village spirit, their believes, their laws, their success and failures. Wilds dogs in a pack have their own personality’s their own thoughts, but they share one spirit. Humans can have both. Humans can even help individual animals form their own spirit, especially if they take an animal from the wild and help to form it within their own borders.”      “Thats ridiculous” Carry said “they do what they do now only more clearly, they kill the spirits animals have. They replace them with nothing. That’s how parasites work.” “Then Carry, what do you think a village spirit is?” Eduardo asked.      “A temporary anomaly, perhaps humans almost becoming enlightened. It doesn’t matter, they never last long. On the land I’m a wanderer and I have seen thousands of  town spirits, and overtime they’ve almost grown up they completely perish. They just disappear, or sometimes humans themselves kill them. No other creature does that, because spirits for other creatures are natural, humans just aren’t supposed to have them.” Eduardo raised an eyebrow to Cecil.      “I am not a wanderer and I keep humans at bay. I cannot say why they are the way they are.” Cecil shrugged.      “Why are you bringing a human with you?” Carry asked Cecil.      “I do not have much experience with humans, so I need an expert in the field, and I also need someone to show me where Up Top Town is.” Cecil shrugged.      “Just follow the signs mate” Carry said tiredly and rolled over, facing away from them. Cecil frowned.      “You sleeping?” He asked.      “Clearly” Carry answered.      “Fine” Eduardo said scoffing his cheese down “just don’t wake me in the morning.”      “That’s fine” Cecil nodded calmly pulling his tree between his legs “It’s not like we’re on a rescue mission or anything.”

Chapter 4

Chapter 3

Chapter 2

Chapter 1

Prologue

[youarebeyoutifulx]

Why Pork is Haram in Islam

1) A pig is a real garbage gut. It will eat anything including urine, excrement, dirt, decaying animal flesh, maggots, or decaying vegetables. They will even eat the cancerous growths off other pigs or animals.

2) The meat and fat of a pig absorbs toxins like a sponge. Their meat can be 30 times more toxic than beef or venison.

3) When eating beef or venison, it takes 8 to 9 hours to digest the meat so what little toxins are in the meat are slowly put into our system and can be filtered by the liver. But when pork is eaten, it takes only 4 hours to digest the meat. We thus get a much higher level of toxins within a shorter time.

4) Unlike other mammals, a pig does not sweat or perspire. Perspiration is a means by which toxins are removed from the body. Since a pig does not sweat, the toxins remain within its body and in the meat

5) Pigs and swine are so poisonous that you can hardly kill them with strychnine or other poisons.

6) Farmers will often pen up pigs within a rattlesnake nest because the pigs will eat the snakes, and if bitten they will not be harmed by the venom.

7) When a pig is butchered, worms and insects take to its flesh sooner and faster than to other animal’s flesh. In a few days the swine flesh is full of worms.

Swine and pigs have over a dozen parasites within them, such as tapeworms, flukes, worms, and trichinae. There is no safe temperature at which pork can be cooked to ensure that all these parasites, their cysts, and eggs will be killed.

9) Pig meat has twice as much fat as beef. A 3 oz T bone steak contains 8.5 grams of fat; a 3 oz pork chop contains 18 grams of fat. A 3 oz beef rib has 11.1 grams of fat; a 3 oz pork spare rib has 23.2 grams of fat.

10) Cows have a complex digestive system, having four stomachs. It thus takes over 24 hours to digest their vegetarian diet causing its food to be purified of toxins. In contrast, the swine’s one stomach takes only about 4 hours to digest its foul diet, turning its toxic food into flesh.

11) The swine carries about 30 diseases which can be easily passed to humans. This is why God commanded that we are not even to touch their carcase (Leviticus 11:8).

12) The trichinae worm of the swine is microscopically small, and once ingested can lodge itself in our intestines, muscles, spinal cord or the brain. This results in the disease trichinosis. The symptoms are sometimes lacking, but when present they are mistaken for other diseases, such as typhoid, arthritis, rheumatism, gastritis, MS, meningitis, gall bladder trouble, or acute alcoholism.

13) The pig is so poisonous and filthy, that nature had to prepare him a sewer line or canal running down each leg with an outlet in the bottom of the foot. Out of this hole oozes pus and filth his body cannot pass into its system fast enough. Some of this pus gets into the meat of the pig.

14) According to Jewish law, pork is one of a number of foods forbidden from consumption by Jews. These foods are known as “non-kosher” foods. In order for a meat to be kosher, it must first come from a kosher animal. A kosher animal must be a ruminant and have split hooves – therefore cows, sheep, goats and deer are all kosher, whereas camels and pigs (having each only one sign of kashrut) are not kosher.

15) Quran, Holy book of Muslims also prohibits consumption of pork

[sciencespies]

What we don't know about parasites in our changing world could be deadly

https://sciencespies.com/environment/what-we-dont-know-about-parasites-in-our-changing-world-could-be-deadly/

What we don't know about parasites in our changing world could be deadly

In the salt water marshes of southern California, a splashing killifish is easy prey for a hungry shorebird. Like a jerking marionette, the helpless creature shimmies and flashes on the surface of the water. And all the while, hiding deep in its brain, an invisible other quietly pulls the strings.

The puppeteer in question is the super-abundant parasitic flatworm known as Euhaplorchis californiensis. Throughout its life, this one parasite will infect no less than three animals, and a bird’s intestine is the final destination it wants to reach.

To get there, the parasite’s larva must penetrate a killifish, crawl to its brain and lay down a carpet of cysts, which it then uses to manipulate the host’s swimming, sending it thrashing to the surface.

As it happens, infected killifish are preyed on by birds some 10 to 30 times more, which means that parasites are essentially increasing the amount of resources available in the ecosystem: a relationship we often overlook in the natural world.

The story of the infected fish is a tantalising peak backstage, but it’s also a reminder of our sheer ignorance. As the world’s climate changes, we can’t ignore our parasites any longer.

A parasitic dark matter

Though often hidden to the human eye, parasites are, by some estimates, more than half of all known species on Earth. What’s more, they can influence virtually every other free-living animal.

Humans alone play host to nearly 300 types of parasitic worm, and around a third of us are currently infected, whether knowingly or not, with at least one.

They’re everywhere, on all sides, maybe even inside. And yet when we picture a classic food chain, how many of us remember the lions, zebras and grass, only to forget their hidden puppeteers?

Compared to free-living species, scientists have collected relatively scant information on parasites. Historically dominated by medical researchers and overlooked by ecologists and conservationists (Darwin himself viewed them as “degenerates“), these organisms are often entirely missing from modern depictions of food chains; even though, in the average ecosystem, parasite–host links actually outnumber predator–prey links.

Only in the last 30 years or so have we realised our mistake.

 (Cizauskas et al., Royal Society Open Science, 2017)

Above: Global distribution of parasite climate change research. Research on parasitic species is disproportionately oriented towards human emerging infectious diseases (EIDs), especially in countries where the majority of parasite research occurs.

When parasites like E. californiensis are included in the ecology of California’s salt marshes, the classic food web – with a few predators at the top and lots of smaller species on the bottom – is almost literally “turned on its head“.

“Essentially,” the authors of a 2008 paper explain, “a second web appears around the free-living web, and this completely changes the level of connectivity.”

Parasites are thus described as a sort of hidden “dark matter“, not only in our ecosystems but also in our models of infection. When Chelsea Wood, a parasite ecologist at the University of Washington, first started researching mass fishing nearly 15 years ago, she told ScienceAlert that we had virtually no idea how this practice might impact resident parasites.

Even now, she adds, when ecosystems are facing unprecedented changes, we have only the foggiest idea how more than half the species on Earth are coping.

Whether acknowledged or not, parasites are key indicators and shapers of healthy communities, influencing the survival and reproduction of whole host populations, causing food web cascades or even epidemics.

Some call them the “omnipresent agents of natural selection“, others the “ultimate missing links“, still others the “invisible puppeteers“.

Whatever the label, it’s about time we consider the parasite.

Shooting in the dark

If the history of medical science has taught us anything, Wood argues, it’s that the emergence of a new infectious disease can go unnoticed for a long time: the tale of HIV, jumping from primates to humans decades before we recognised it as a global epidemic, is a prime example.

Today, a similar story might be unfolding in our oceans, like a shadow, creeping up the wall behind us.

“We really are just starting to scratch the surface on whether a changing world means rising rates of infectious disease,” Wood told ScienceAlert.

In the last few years, scientists have grown ever more concerned that our planet is not only getting warmer, it’s also altering the spread and distribution of parasitic diseases.

A recent finding, not yet published by Wood’s lab, indicates that from 1978 to 2015, there was a 280-fold increase in Anisakis simplex, a cold water nematode responsible for some 20,000 cases of herring worm disease, usually contracted from eating raw or undercooked seafood.

Whether the trend is due to fishing, climate change or something else, is hard to say for now. In Arctic waters, where this nematode flourishes and climate change is at its worst, we often lack baseline and long-term data, even for the best known parasites and their diseases.

Unfortunately, this means our future projections can often fall short of the rich reality.

The domino effects of climate change on parasites and their hosts. (Cizauskas et al., Royal Society Open Science, 2017)

The latest climate-parasite models are trying to fill-in this blindspot, incorporating not only climate data, but also information on parasitic life cycles, ranges, and opportunities for new hosts.

The initial results suggest that climate change will play a much larger role in disease transfer than we once thought. But what that specifically means for bird-flu, human malaria, A. simplex or other parasitic diseases remains unresolved.

After all, wherever there’s few data, there’s plenty of doubt. Even Wood, who directly measures parasite prevalence, admits that her research may well contain a sneaking bias. Researchers, you see, tend to pay more attention to those parasites that matter to humans.

“No one cares about parasites that are diminishing into extinction, because they don’t hurt people, they don’t hurt animals, they don’t cause outbreaks, they don’t ruin your fish fillet, they don’t crawl across your plate at the sushi restaurant,” Wood explains.

But that doesn’t mean they aren’t a vital part of our ecology. While an increase or change in parasite populations will no doubt have serious repercussions for health and agriculture, the flip side may well entail ecological upheaval. Some parasites are certain to flourish, while others will likely decline and go extinct.

A 2017 study on 457 parasite species predicts that five to 10 percent are committed to this fate by 2070, solely from climate-driven habitat loss. The researchers went on to create the first “red list” for parasites.

“Accounting for host-driven coextinctions,” the authors write, “models predict that up to 30 [percent] of parasitic worms are committed to extinction, driven by a combination of direct and indirect pressures.”

Will the aforementioned E. californiensis number among these wormy losers? Will another invasive parasite take its place? What then will happen to the size, distribution and abundance of killifish? The hungry shorebird? The precious salt marshes? The humans who rely on them?

Gathering answers on the complexities of parasite-host dynamics in all the thousands of mammal and bird species is a simply impossible task, says Konstans Wells, a parasite ecologist and modeller at Swansea University.

“We need more data for certain aspects,” he told ScienceAlert, “but we certainly can’t sample everything and we also can’t wait with the modelling because there is always a need to make better forecasting or maps where diseases are being distributed.”

As the clock ticks, researchers must act like ghostbusters, hunting down invisible foes, diseases that don’t yet exist or have yet to re-emerge in some new unexpected location.

Danielle Claar, a postdoc working in Wood’s lab, is studying the effect of El Niño events in the parasite-rich Tropics, because she says these can act as windows into future warming. Others in the team are sifting through countless museum samples and old journals for evidence of the past.

“When you arrive into science you think everyone’s got everything figured out,” Wood says.

“But as you get deeper in you realise there’s so much we don’t know. It’s staggering.”

As the climate crisis takes a firm grip, squeezing some parasites out and holding on to others, what we don’t know could very will kill many. And that goes for both parasites and humans alike.

A version of this article was first published in June 2019.

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