Scientists have named a parasite after Barack Obama — and there’s no worming out of it. “Baracktrema Obamai”, is a tiny parasitic flatworm that lives in turtles’ blood. A new study officially named the 2-inch, hair-thin creature after Obama. Thomas R Platt chose the name and believes that the president should consider it an honour, not an insult.
“This is clearly something in my small way done to honor our president,” Mr Platt said. Mr Platt said people pay thousands of dollars for the privilege of having a species named after them.
The worm is related, distantly, to a parasite that can cause a devastating disease in humans, but it causes no harm to turtles, he says.
Parasites are cool, crucial to life and all around us, according to Rutgers biologist Michael Sukhedo, editor of the journal. “About seven out of 10 animals on Earth are parasites. Naming a new species – especially in the final paper of a career – “is a big decision,” he said.
President Obama already has a spider, a fish and even an extinct dinosaur named after him.
Although names are usually bestowed as an honour, Mr Sukhedo admits once or twice parasites have been named as a tool of revenge – something Mr Platt says isn’t the case here.
It is not clear if “Baracktrema obami” can infect humans, but they are related to worms that can. Parasites can eat the tissues of their hosts and produce toxic waste, which can cause debilitating health problems in the infected.