A worm that secretes a “powerful” toxin is present in Canada

Worms that secrete a toxin dangerous to humans have been seen in Ontario in recent days. The toxin secreted by the hammerhead flatworm, or bipalium, is One of the “most powerful in the animal world”, according to an expert.

Few agencies that monitor or analyze invasive species track the number of hammerhead flatworms. They’re here in Ontario, there’s no doubt about ithowever declares John Warren Reynoldsa researcher born in Saint-Lambert who now lives in Ontario.

Dr. Reynolds is the author of more than 500 publications, the majority of which relate to oligochetology, the study of earthworms. Earthworms are one of the prey of hammerhead flatworms.

A resident of St. Thomas, Ontario says she found a worm in her garden. Several Ontarians have also reported spotting the species on the site iNaturalist. A user of Newmarketnorth of Toronto, says he saw some over 60 in his yard this year.

This site is recommended by the Ontario Invasive Species Awareness Program, which is co-led by the Ontario government, although some people contacted by Radio-Canada believe it is not a reliable Source, since the users are not scientists or experts.

Hamilton and Guelph “,”text”:”Found in the Toronto area, Hamilton and Guelph “}}”>They are found in the Toronto area, Hamilton and Guelph , indicates entomologist Étienne Normandin, of the University of Montreal. In the summer of 2023, a resident of Westmount, Quebec, found around twenty of them in her garden.

According to John Warren Reynoldsworms have been in North America for more than 100 years, but climate change has meant that they are increasingly found in the north of the continent.

Young children are at risk

Young children are particularly at risk if they find the worms in their yard, according to Étienne Normandin. If they put these worms in their mouth, even the small amount of tetrodotoxin in their mouth can affect the child’s digestive system.he explains in an interview with Mornings without borders.

If [l’enfant] eats one, two or three, you may need to go to the hospital for treatment.

Ingestion of a worm is not fatal, mentions John Warren Reynolds, but it could cause nausea.

Mr. Normandin recommends that adults handle worms with care. The amount of toxin is small, but precautions must be taken. You must handle these worms with gloves when they are found in your garden.he said.

John Warren Reynolds suggests scooping up the worm with a shovel and placing it in a plastic bag, then letting it die.

pieces, you will have sixvers”,”text”:”Do not cut them, since if you cut the worm into six pieces, you will have six verses”}}”>Don’t cut them, since if you cut the worm into six pieces, you will have six wormsunderlines Dr. Reynolds. The species is hermaphrodite and reproduces on its own, he said.

The exotic plants involved

The worms, which come from Asia, arrived in the country via exotic plants, according to Étienne Normandin. These worms move when flower pots are transportedhe summarizes.

In an article published in the journal Diversity and Distributions in 2022, researchers have established that the population of these worms could grow outside of Asia, since the species can survive and reproduce in exotic regions.

Their reproduction is worrying, according to the authors of the article, since hammerhead flatworms are predators of molluscs and earthworms. These latter play an essential role in ecosystemswe read in the article.

One of the problems posed by the arrival of such species in North America, concludes Dr. Reynolds, is that they are not accompanied by their natural predators. In their natural environment, he says, these predators control the population.