The College of Science at the University of Basra organized a discussion seminar entitled Dioctophyma renale in humans for the student of Dr.
Dioctophyma renale, or what is known as the "giant kidney worm", is one of the largest parasitic nematodes. Adult worms are found in the kidneys of many species of carnivorous mammals, including humans. Humans become infected with D. renale mainly by eating raw or undercooked fish or frogs that contain infective larvae. Individuals with Dioctophymiasis usually have clinical symptoms of kidney pain, hematuria, ureteral obstruction and in advanced cases kidney cancer, three fatal cases have been reported in Indonesia, the United States and China.
