this post was submitted on 15 Aug 2025
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Science Memes

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[–] Sterile_Technique@lemmy.world 0 points 2 months ago (2 children)

...what's actually making the cysts radiopaque? I wouldn't have guessed tape worms or the damage they're doing to soft tissue to be anywhere near that visible on x-ray

[–] SacralPlexus@lemmy.world 0 points 2 months ago (2 children)

With a lot of parasites, when they die the tissue around them calcifies (just your body’s response). That’s what we are seeing on the radiograph.

[–] Ziglin@lemmy.world 0 points 2 months ago

I would have assumed that perhaps it was a tracer at first.

[–] Sterile_Technique@lemmy.world 0 points 2 months ago

That makes a ton more sense - thank you!

[–] Tollana1234567@lemmy.today 0 points 2 months ago

calcification, the immune system, combined with the parasite walling off the infection. the parasite itself secretes chemicals to suppress the local immune system, thats why you dont see massive immune response to so many. if the parasites suddenly die it can be a problem for the host. theres also studies going on that non-deadly parasites are result of modulating autoimmune diseases as well.