Is Worm in Toilet Earthworm or Parasite?

Share the knowledge

[Site maintenance for this site provided by Usestrict WordPress services]

We recently heard from a reader who discovered an interesting creature in his toilet. He did not specify if the worm was found in a clean toilet or after the toilet had been used. He did mention his concern that this creature might be a parasite, especially since he has been infected with a parasite in the past while he was working in India. He hopes that we are able to identify the specimen:

All About Worms is always free, always reader-supported, we don't subject you to ads or annoying video pop-ups. But it does cost us money out of our pocket to keep the site going (nearly 20 years so far!) So 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

Although there is a little glare in the photograph, it is still a great photo and extremely helpful. Since his finger is also in the photo, we have a good idea about the size of the specimen. We think it is about an inch and a half or two inches long. It is a reddish brown color and has small segments lining its body. We also notice a lighter section about a third of the way down its body.
So, is this worm a parasite? We don’t think so! We are confident that the creature in question is an earthworm. We recognize the worm by its color, segmentation, and especially by the lighter section on its body, known as a clitellum. The clitellum is a raised band that is made up of reproductive organs.
In addition to all of the physical traits, the location of where the creature was found is a big hint. Readers discover earthworms in their toilets on a weekly basis. Despite this being a regular occurrence, we still haven’t cracked the code on why or how exactly these worms end up in toilets. Our best guess is that they come from the pipes. As long as our reader doesn’t continue to find worms in his toilet, we recommend he not dwell on its presence. If discovering worms in his toilet becomes a common occurrence, he might want to reach out to a plumber to investigate the pipes.
In conclusion, a reader discovered a worm in his toilet that we believe is an earthworm. However, since he did mention he was worried it might be a parasite, we encourage him to see a doctor if he is stressed about his health.

All About Worms is always free, always reader-supported, we don't subject you to ads or annoying video pop-ups. But it does cost us money out of our pocket to keep the site going (nearly 20 years so far!) So 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

Summary
Is Worm in Toilet Earthworm or Parasite?
Article Name
Is Worm in Toilet Earthworm or Parasite?
Description
A reader discovered a worm in his toilet that we believe is an earthworm. However, since he did mention he was worried it might be a parasite, we encourage him to see a doctor if he is stressed about his health.
Author

Share the knowledge
Share:

Author: Worm Researcher Dori

Leave a Reply

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