Is Worm in Toilet a Parasite?

Share the knowledge

A reader recently sent us a photograph accompanied by this message, “Could you find out if this worm that I found in the toilet is a parasite or not?” The photograph he sent shows a very thin worm-like organism floating in some urine. Unfortunately, there isn’t enough detail to identify the specimen, but we will explore a few potential possibilities.

The specimens readers discover most often in their toilets are bloodworms, earthworms, and drain fly larvae. Bloodworms, which are actually midge fly larvae, are tiny, bright red worms that live in polluted water and feed on sediment and organic material.  Earthworms vary a lot more in color. They might be brown, red, or purple. They have segmented bodies that are a few inches long.  Drain fly larvae are minuscule black larvae that also feed on organic material. We believe the creature in the photo is too thin to be an earthworm and too large to be a drain fly larva. So, out of the most common creatures discovered in toilets, we think it this specimen is most likely to be a bloodworm. Of course, there is a possibility that it is some other specimen entirely, but as we mentioned we don’t have enough information to make a certain identification.

If the specimen is a bloodworm, our reader will need to give his toilet a thorough cleaning in order to eliminate any food source these larvae might be feeding on. He should scrub out the toilet bowl and drain with a cleaning agent that is designed to kill organic material. If he suspects there is a clog in the toilet, he will also need to use a plunger in the cleaning process. Bloodworms are not harmful and don’t transmit or carry human diseases!
To summarize, one of our readers discovered a thin worm in his toilet. We don’t think it is a parasite, but we can’t rule out the possibility with absolute certainty. If our reader is experiencing any strange symptoms or is truly worried about his health, we encourage him to see a doctor as soon as possible to get sorted out!

 

All About Worms is always free, always reader-supported. Your tips via CashApp, Venmo, or Paypal are appreciated! Receipts will come from ISIPP Publishing.

CashApp us Square Cash app link

Venmo us Venmo link

Paypal us Paypal link

Note: Some links on this site are partner links. That means that we earn a tiny bit if you purchase something through them, at no extra charge to you. This helps offset the cost of keeping this resource free for everybody (it doesn't cover our costs, but every little bit helps! :~) )
Summary
Is Worm in Toilet a Parasite?
Article Name
Is Worm in Toilet a Parasite?
Description
One of our readers discovered a thin worm in his toilet. We don't think it is a parasite, but we can't rule out the possibility with absolute certainty. If our reader is experiencing any strange symptoms or is truly worried about his health, we encourage him to see a doctor as soon as possible to get sorted out!
Author

Share the knowledge
Share:

Author: Worm Researcher Dori

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *