Blackworms and human zoonosis

[bigignatz]

Is anyone aware of any pathogens carried by blackworms that are of significant health risk to humans? If nobody has done the studies yet it'd be great if somebody would do some basic culturing at least of the water in which they're stored. I ask because they're frequently stored in open containers in the fridge, much to the consternation of at least some of our significant others) and because it seems like whenever I end up working with them for a while I get sick if I get the least bit sloppy with sanitation. Of course, it could be my siphoning those old crappy canister filters I have that refuse to do the job on their own. Nothing like a mouthful of fish**** soup to make you consider a different hobby. Yeah, but that's just how stupid and hardcore I am, that's how I roll, man...

Maybe Oddball could shed some light on this question?

 

[Kaosu]

...i breed my own black worms in a 10 gallon tank and nothing but a pile of dried oak leaves...a thick bed of gravel and an air stone..they breed like mad and if i remember they get a 50% water change monthly.

never gotten sick from them, and im in there tank every other week getting them out to feed, but than again I always wash my hands after handling anything to do with my fish.

 

[Pyramid_Party]

It is recommended to change their water every day or every other day. So the water should be clean fresh water. However I have no idea about anything else aside from that. Such as how they were originally bred and what kind of water they were bred/cultured in. I think generally blackworms are kept really clean cause they die off fast if their water is bad.

 

[kamikaziechameleon]

I did extensive research on the matter prior to introducing them into my planted tank. It seems that black worms, real black worms are safe. Frequently other more... unpleasent animals get passed off with or as them. Leaches seem to be the most prevalent but some other more parasite prone worms can as well. I didn't read about any real danger to people though... I imagine ingesting the parasitic worms wouldn't do you well but then again I wouldn't eat them accidently either.

 

[Pyramid_Party]

Yep I have noticed the leeches in some batches of blackworms I get.