Baoh (Parasite)

"Baoh is the most formidable biological weapon our organization has created!"

- Dr. Kasuminome,

The Baoh parasite (寄生虫バオー) is a worm-like creature, featured in Baoh: The Visitor.

Created by Dr. Kasuminome as a bio-weapon under the orders of the Dress Organization, the Baoh parasite is the origin of Ikuro Hashizawa's fighting abilities as "Baoh" (バオー), and of the Baoh Armed Phenomenon (バオー).

Appearance
The Baoh parasite, in its larval stage, takes the form of a long, segmented worm of indeterminate evolutionary origin. Between its sixth and seventh bodily segment, a thin tendril emerges from the left side of its body, and trails down past the length of it.

In the OVA, it is depicted with a sucker like mouth with a pair of lips and mammalian fangs.

Summary
The parasite is stated to be a product of "artificial evolution", by means of a special drug which allowed the manipulation of genetic material within cell nuclei; and the exposure of over a hundred different species of animals to extreme environmental conditions (e.g. extreme temperatures, minimal or limited oxygen, etc.). The survivors of these experiments, having adapted to their environment(s), would then reproduce. Consequently, their offspring would be stronger due to the development of neoplasms reflective of their parents' biological and environmental adaptations.

Of what is known of the parasite's life cycle, it parasitizes the arteries leading to the brain. It is said to be able to live up to 110 days in its larval stage, before growing into an. Subsequently, it lays its eggs inside of its host's body. Upon hatching, these larvae will tear their way out of the host's body, and disperse into the wild.

The parasite itself also demonstrates a level of intelligence beyond what its appearance may entail, being capable of learning new information independent of its host while in control of their body.

Abilities
Baoh Armed Phenomenon (バオー): By measuring the level of produced by their host's adrenal medulla, Baoh is capable of detecting when their Host is personally in danger. Subsequently, it will transform their host into a "Baoh", and subsume their consciousness (likened to "mental anesthesia") in order to assume direct control of their bodily functions. In this state, their Host's cellular tissues are altered by a chemical secretion administered through the bloodstream, granting them a number of superhuman abilities, not including the individual "Phenomenon" (フェノメノン) forms of attacks. Chief among them are superhuman strength and agility; regeneration; and the use of an unique extrasensory organ, the "Tactile Sensor".

Notably, however, it is shown that a host (namely Ikuro) is capable of developing a sufficient bond with the parasite as to utilize Armed Phenomenon while otherwise in control of his body and not transformed.