Identified as ascaris lumbricoides, this type of roundworm can grow up to 35cm long and live in the human ... was likely exposed to the worms via contaminated water and walking barefoot.

In fact, a 1956 study found that five earthworm species "were all able to live for ... saturated with water," Whitman said. "So long as there is oxygen in the water, these worms will still be ...