It is a parasitic infectious disease caused by roundworms of the Filarioidea type. These are thread-like nematodes that belong to the roundworm filarioidea family.
This disease belongs to helminthiases. The infection is spread by blood-feeding mosquitoes and black flies. There are 8 types of known filarial nematodes which use human as their best host. They are divided into 3 categories on the basis of the niche in the body they occupy:
Lymphatic filariasis: Here, the lymphatic system is occupied by the worms including lymph nodes. These worms are Brugia timori, Wuchereria bancrofti, and Brugia malayi. In chronic conditions, elephantiasis may develop.
Subcutaneous filariasis: Here, the subcutaneous layer of the skin is occupied by the worms. These worms are Onchocerca volvulus, Mansonella streptocera and Loa loa.
Serous cavity filariasis: Here, the serous cavity of the abdomen is occupied by the worms. These worms are Mansonella ozzardi and Mansonella perstans Mansonella ozzardi.
It is a parasitic infectious disease caused by roundworms of the Filarioidea type. These are thread-like nematodes that belong to the roundworm filarioidea family.
This disease belongs to helminthiases. The infection is spread by blood-feeding mosquitoes and black flies. There are 8 types of known filarial nematodes which use human as their best host. They are divided into 3 categories on the basis of the niche in the body they occupy:
Lymphatic filariasis: Here, the lymphatic system is occupied by the worms including lymph nodes. These worms are Brugia timori, Wuchereria bancrofti, and Brugia malayi. In chronic conditions, elephantiasis may develop.
Subcutaneous filariasis: Here, the subcutaneous layer of the skin is occupied by the worms. These worms are Onchocerca volvulus, Mansonella streptocera and Loa loa.
Serous cavity filariasis: Here, the serous cavity of the abdomen is occupied by the worms. These worms are Mansonella ozzardi and Mansonella perstans Mansonella ozzardi.
The most common symptom is edema which further results in elephantiasis (swelling and thickening of the skin and underlying tissues). This occurs when worms attack the lymphatic system.
Other symptoms are :
Filariasis is caused by the infected mosquitoes of Filarioidea type. They bite the human body and inject filarial parasites into the body. Multiplication of microfilariae by takes place inside the body which can live for around 6-8 years in a body. Thus millions of immature larvae are produced which circulates in the blood.
When mosquitoes bite the infected person microfilariae enters their bloodstream. They develop into infective larvae inside the mosquito. When these infected mosquitoes bite the human body, the mature parasite larvae are injected into the body through the skin and bloodstream. They mature into an adult worm in the lymphatic vessel and in this way the cycle of transmission continues.
The most common symptom is edema which further results in elephantiasis (swelling and thickening of the skin and underlying tissues). This occurs when worms attack the lymphatic system.
Other symptoms are :
Filariasis is caused by the infected mosquitoes of Filarioidea type. They bite the human body and inject filarial parasites into the body. Multiplication of microfilariae by takes place inside the body which can live for around 6-8 years in a body. Thus millions of immature larvae are produced which circulates in the blood.
When mosquitoes bite the infected person microfilariae enters their bloodstream. They develop into infective larvae inside the mosquito. When these infected mosquitoes bite the human body, the mature parasite larvae are injected into the body through the skin and bloodstream. They mature into an adult worm in the lymphatic vessel and in this way the cycle of transmission continues.