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Understanding Roundworms and Filariasis

Roundworms are parasitic nematodes that infect humans and other animals. Ascaris lumbricoides is a roundworm species that commonly infects humans and causes ascariasis. It lives in the small intestine and its eggs are deposited in feces and soil, infecting other organisms that consume contaminated plants. Ascaris infection can impair nutrition, cognitive ability, and cause intestinal obstruction. Filariasis is caused by filarial roundworms transmitted via mosquitoes and black flies. They occupy different areas of the body, such as the lymphatic system, skin, or abdominal cavity. Adult worms release microfilariae into the bloodstream that can infect vectors and transmit to new hosts. Elephantiasis is

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1K views2 pages

Understanding Roundworms and Filariasis

Roundworms are parasitic nematodes that infect humans and other animals. Ascaris lumbricoides is a roundworm species that commonly infects humans and causes ascariasis. It lives in the small intestine and its eggs are deposited in feces and soil, infecting other organisms that consume contaminated plants. Ascaris infection can impair nutrition, cognitive ability, and cause intestinal obstruction. Filariasis is caused by filarial roundworms transmitted via mosquitoes and black flies. They occupy different areas of the body, such as the lymphatic system, skin, or abdominal cavity. Adult worms release microfilariae into the bloodstream that can infect vectors and transmit to new hosts. Elephantiasis is

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Rodrigo
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THE EXAMPLE OF ROUNDWORM

Ascaris is a genus of parasitic nematode worms known as the "small intestinal


roundworms", which is a type of helminth. One species, Ascaris lumbricoides, affects
humans and causes the disease ascariasis. Another species, Ascaris suum, typically
infectspigs. Parascaris equorum, the equine roundworm, is also commonly called an
"Ascarid."
Their eggs are deposited in feces and soil. Plants with the eggs on them infect any
organism that consumes them. A. lumbricoidesis the largest intestinal roundworm
and is the most common helminth infection of humans worldwide. Infestation can
cause morbidity by compromising nutritional status, [3] affecting cognitive processes,
inducing tissue reactions such as granuloma to larval stages, and by causing
intestinal obstruction, which can be fatal.
Filariasis (or philariasis) is a parasitic disease that is caused by thread-like
roundworms belonging to the Filarioidea type. These are spread by blood-feeding
black flies and mosquitoes.
Eight known filarial nematodes use humans as their definitive hosts. These are
divided into three groups according to the niche within the body they occupy:
Lymphatic filariasis is caused by the worms Wuchereria bancrofti, Brugia
malayi, and Brugia timori. These worms occupy thelymphatic system, including
the lymph nodes; in chronic cases, these worms lead to the disease elephantiasis.
Subcutaneous filariasis is caused by Loa loa (the eye worm), Mansonella
streptocerca, and Onchocerca volvulus. These worms occupy the subcutaneous
layer of the skin, in the fat layer. L. loa causes Loa loa filariasis, while O. volvulus
causes river blindness.
Serous cavity filariasis is caused by the worms Mansonella perstans and
Mansonella ozzardi, which occupy the serous cavity of the abdomen.

The adult worms, which usually stay in one tissue, release early larval forms known
as microfilariae into the host's bloodstream. These circulating microfilariae can be
taken up with a blood meal by the arthropod vector; in the vector, they develop into
infective larvae that can be transmitted to a new host.

Individuals infected by filarial worms may be described as either "microfilaraemic"


or "amicrofilaraemic", depending on whether microfilariae can be found in their
peripheral blood. Filariasis is diagnosed in microfilaraemic cases primarily through
direct observation of microfilariae in the peripheral blood. Occult filariasis is
diagnosed in amicrofilaraemic cases based on clinical observations and, in some
cases, by finding a circulating antigen in the blood.
Elephantiasis is a symptom of a variety of diseases, where parts of a person's
body swell to massive proportions.
A female with Elephantiasis tropica
Some conditions that have this symptom include:
Elephantiasis nostras, due to longstanding chronic lymphangitis
Elephantiasis tropica or lymphatic filariasis, caused by a number of parasitic
worms, particularly Wuchereria bancrofti
Nonfilarial elephantiasis or podoconiosis, an immune disease affecting the
lymph vessels
Elephantiasis, Grade 4 lymphedema
Genital elephantiasis, end result of lymphogranuloma venereum
Proteus syndrome, the genetic disorder of the so-called Elephant Man

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