In a shocking medical discovery, neurosurgeons at Canberra Hospital in Australia have found a live worm inside a woman's brain during surgery. The 64-year-old patient had been experiencing a range of symptoms, including abdominal pain, diarrhea, cough, night sweats, forgetfulness, and depression. Doctors initially suspected a cancer or abscess, but an MRI scan revealed a worm-like structure in her right frontal lobe.

Dr. Hari Priya Bandi, the neurosurgeon who performed the surgery, was not expecting to extract a live 8-centimeter roundworm from the patient's brain. The parasite has been identified as Ophidascaris robertsi, a species usually found in carpet pythons. This is the first known case of a live worm inside a human brain.

Researchers believe that the patient may have come into contact with the roundworm after ingesting Warrigal greens, a native leafy vegetable, which may have been contaminated by python feces. The discovery of the worm highlights the potential risk of diseases and infections crossing over from animals to humans.

The patient is said to be recovering well after the surgery. The case has been published in the journal Emerging Infectious Diseases, shedding light on this extraordinary medical occurrence.