Commentary
Millions of dollars are spent annually to get rid of parasites. This article challenges much of the traditional thinking about parasites as bad things. In some ways, it reminds me of the microbiome discoveries and advancements of the last 50 years that continue to change how we think about the role of intestinal bacteria.
Parasite ecologist Chelsea Wood sometimes refers to parasites as “puppet masters.” That may not be an exaggeration. Parasites are by definition bad for their hosts, but today, some scientists are starting to think about parasites as forces for good. Parasites make up an estimated 40 percent of the animal kingdom, she says.
Source: Grist, May 7, 2024. Link. (10:32)
We don’t even have a handle on how many parasites there are in the world, much less the scale of parasite biodiversity loss right now. But the early indications are that parasites are at least as vulnerable as their hosts, and potentially more so.”