Page 16 - IAV Digital Magazine #520

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Japanese Ballpoint Pen Comes With a Live Parasitic Worm
By Spooky
The pen you’re about to see is one of those shocking prod- ucts that makes people say they’ve seen it all. This Japanese souvenir actually comes with a live nematode para- site swimming inside it...
Anisakis is
a genus of para- sitic nematodes that infect various species of fish and can cause anisakiasis – a
parasitic infection of the gastroin- testinal tract – in humans who con- sume raw or undercooked seafood contain- ing larvae of the aforementioned nematode. Some people can also suffer an acute allergic reaction like anaphylaxis after eating fish infected with anisakis. In short, this aquatic para- site is not the kind of thing you’d want any- where near you, so why would
anyone create a pen with a live anisakis worm encased inside?
It’s still early April, so you’d be for- given for thinking that the pen in question is noth- ing but an April fool. I know I did, but if the ample evidence on Japanese social media is anything to go by, the live nematode pen is a real thing that you can buy and gift to a special someone to let them know how much they mean to you.
Or you can just keep it for your- self and procrasti- nate by watching the parasite slith- ering inside its lit- tle tank. I honest- ly can’t think of a more fun way to spend my work- day...
There’s not a lot of information on this bizarre pen online right now, but according to some Twitter users, it was
thought up by entrepreneurs in Japan’s Kochi Prefecture, which apart from its agricultural devel- opment is also known for its fish- ing tradition. Apparently, the nematode swim- ming inside a small, transparent tank embedded in a fountain pen was considered a great selling point. For what, I couldn’t tell you.
So here’s what else we know about this truly bizarre souvenir. According to those who actual- ly bought it, the nematode-con- taining pen sells for 950 yen ($8.70), which is about 1,000 yen more than I’d be willing pay for it.
The parasite inside is appar- ently quite active for several days (4 – 5 days by most accounts), after which it becomes more inactive and eventually dies.
Then you left with a dead parasitic worm to stare at, which somehow sounds even worse.
Considering the nature of the con- tents, I’m not sure the nematode ballpoint pen can be purchased online, but I’m sure the people who are in the market for some- thing like this will find a ways to get their hand on it.
Interestingly, Japan is one of the areas of the world where anisakiasis cases are most fre- quently, due to the consumption of raw seafood (sashimi). The most common symptom is acute abdominal pain, but Wikipedia does a great job of explaining exactly what goes on in your stom- ach that causes that pain.
“Within a few hours of inges- tion, the parasitic
worm tries to bur- row though the intestinal wall, but since it cannot penetrate it, it gets stuck and dies. The pres- ence of the para- site triggers an immune response; immune cells sur- round the worms, forming a ball-like structure that can block the diges- tive system, caus- ing severe abdominal pain, malnutrition, and vomiting,” the Wikipedia article states.
“Occasionally, the larvae are regur- gitated. If the lar- vae pass into the bowel or large intestine, a severe eosinophilic gran- ulomatous respon se may also occur one to two weeks following infection, causing symptoms mim- icking Crohn’s disease.”
Somehow this pen seems even more gross now, doesn’t it?
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