Our parents use to give us warm medicine when we were young. Now, there is a pen that will make sure you will not fail to take worm medication in adulthood. A souvenir from Japan actually comes with a live nematode parasite swimming inside it.
Anisakis is a genus of parasitic nematodes that infect various species of fish. It can cause anisakiasis; a parasitic infection of the gastrointestinal tract. People who consume raw or undercooked seafood might contain larvae of the nematode. Interestingly, Japan is one of the areas of the world where anisakiasis cases are most frequently, due to the consumption of sashimi.
醤油にわさびを混ぜると下品という言説が流れてきた。何を混ぜたら上品なのか？という問いに対し、アニサキスという結論に達した（違） pic.twitter.com/zjNmKhlfNv
— 神戸大学大学院 保健学研究科 寄生虫学 (@kobe_para) April 6, 2021
Some can also suffer an acute allergic reaction like anaphylaxis after eating fish infected with anisakis. So why would anyone create a pen encased with parasites? And it’s not April’s fool joke.
Apparently, it is a real souvenir you can gift to someone or for yourself and watch the parasite slithering inside its tank.
As said by some Twitter users, it was thought up by entrepreneurs in Japan’s Kochi Prefecture. The region is known for its fishing tradition. Apparently, a parasite in a pen is a great selling point.
According to customers who actually buy it, the nematode-containing pen sells for 950 yen (RM35.81).
いっぱい入ってます… pic.twitter.com/S2xk0Qm3Q0
— 多田水産（の中の人） (@tada2547) April 4, 2021
アニサキスボールペンを握って勉強してたら、死んでると思ってた奴ら動き出して草。 https://t.co/7YyGFiWZJQ pic.twitter.com/dWJPzGKWdS
— もつ (@Pug3750) April 6, 2021
The parasite inside is quite active for several days (4 – 5 days by most accounts). Later, it becomes more inactive and eventually dies. Then you left with a deadly parasitic worm to stare at which just feels grim and gross.
Source: Oddity Central, @tada2547, @kobe_para
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