It is the ultimate breakfast nightmare: you roll out of bed, put a pan on the stove, and crack an open egg expecting a perfect, golden yolk. Instead, you are greeted by a thick, milky-white, ribbon-like strand coiled right into the egg white.
If you found yourself staring at your plate for half an hour in pure disbelief, no one could possibly blame you. A viral image circulating online, captures this exact stomach-turning phenomenon perfectly.
Before your mind jumps to the absolute worst conclusions, let’s break down exactly what this bizarre “ribbon” is, how it managed to get inside an unbroken egg, and whether you need to worry.
The Verdict: Meet Ascaridia galli
What you are looking at in 730001582_1005499335690932_256350666895127830_n.png.jpeg is not a strange piece of plastic, an overdeveloped egg part, or a freak genetic mutation. It is actually an adult roundworm—specifically a nematode known as Ascaridia galli.
Ascaridia galli is the most common intestinal parasite found in domestic chickens worldwide. Normally, these worms live quietly in the small intestine of the hen, absorbing nutrients and minding their own business. However, every once in a long while, an adult worm decides to wander.
How Did a Worm Get Inside an Unbroken Egg?
It sounds like a magic trick, but the explanation comes down to basic biology.
Because a hen’s digestive tract and reproductive tract exit close to one another, an exceptionally adventurous adult roundworm can occasionally migrate out of the chicken’s intestine and wander into the oviduct (the reproductive tract where eggs are built).
If a worm happens to be hanging out in the oviduct right as the hen’s body is assembling a new egg, the worm gets caught in the crossfire. The hen’s body simply treats the worm like any other part of the egg, surrounding it with albumen (the egg white) and sealing it inside the protective shell.
By the time the egg is laid, packaged, and lands on your kitchen counter, the stowaway is completely trapped inside.
Is It Dangerous to Humans?
