Sleep parasite

Sleep parasite
Societal information
Species	Parasite
Distinctions	Cause of Sleeping Sickness
Homeworld	Vagonbrei
Status	Active
Out of universe information
Appearances	"Morpheus"

"We've been theorizing that when the parasite enters the bloodstream, it triggers the body's immune response and the production of serotonin, then it makes its way to the patient's brain where it lodges and feeds."

―Lt. Colonel Sam Carter

The Sleep parasite, also known as Morgan Le Fay's curse was an alien microscopic parasite that infected the people of Vagonbrei with a so-called "Sleeping Sickness", which eventually wiped out the entire human population. All animals and birds were also infected by the parasite, though at least one lizard had an immunity to the parasite. Those afflicted with the sickness, having no idea what was really happening, blamed the "curse" on Morgan Le Fay since they previously sold her out to her enemies. Centuries later, the parasite was encountered again by the Tau'ri, though they were more than advanced enough to understand it and eventually devise countermeasures against it.

History

In the final days of the human settlement on Vagonbrei, the village doctor recorded an entry in his journal about the initial outbreak of a sleeping sickness which had infected the town. People were literally falling asleep in the streets or going to bed and never waking up. Having no understanding of microbiology, the villagers believed they had been cursed by the 'witch' Morgan Le Fay for selling her out to Arthur and his knights by giving them her location. In reality however, Morgan had nothing to do with the sickness whatsoever and had only visited the planet sporadically for short periods of time.

Before long, the entire village was infected and the population all died in their sleep whilst the settlement itself collapsed into decay and ruin. Without any more victims to feed upon, the parasite withdrew into dormancy.

2006

In 2006, SG-1 and Red Team fell victim to the sleep parasite after coming to Vagonbrei in search of the Sangraal. Lt. Bernie Ackerman was the first to come into contact with one and awakened it. The parasite made its way to Ackerman's brain and began feeding, causing Ackerman to fall into a deep sleep. Soon all those present were infected and became seriously fatigued. Lt. Colonel Samantha Carter, Dr. Jackson and Dr. Reimer determined the cause of the sickness and commissioned supplies from the SGC for further research. Events took a turn for the worse however when Ackerman suffered a fatal aneurysm in his sleep and died. Recalling a lizard who lived in the cave where the parasite had been first found, Teal'c and Colonel Mitchell went back to retrieve it to isolate and reproduce its immunity to the parasite. Ackerman's teammates Grimsby and Dr. Reimer eventually succumbed to the parasite as well; Grimsby simply keeled over in his chair while Reimer suffered a fatal heart attack while researching the sickness. As the members of SG-1 deteriorated still further, Mitchell managed to capture the lizard and return with it to the village just as reinforcements from the SGC arrived to put the infected team into quarantine. Using the research done by Carter and Reimer combined with examining the lizard's natural immunity, the SGC was able to devise a treatment which isolated and starved out the parasite, saving SG-1 and part of Red Team. (SG1: "Morpheus")

Overview

At first glance the parasite itself is microscopic, only viewable under a microscope. It is a rotund, insectoid being with tendrils sticking both the front and back of the body and no visible eyes. When it is in dirt or earth it is lethargic and inactive but when it comes in contact with live tissue it becomes extremely active.

When it latches on to a host, it makes its way through the host's circulatory system, triggering the body's immune response and the production of seratonin. Eventually it lands in the host's brain and attaches itself to the pineal gland where it lodges and stimulates the excessive production of melatonin, the body's sleep-inducing agent. It then gorges itself on melatonin as huge amounts of the neurotransmitter floods the rest of the host's body, creating a powerful urge to sleep. Once the host gives in and goes to sleep, the parasite continues to feed until it expands to a thousand times its usual size. At that point, the engorged parasite subsequently affects the surrounding cranial tissue, eventually provoking a lethal aneurysm and killing the host.

Gallery

The engorged parasite.

Links and navigation

• Vagonbrei parasite on GateWorld. (backup link)