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Filarial Worms

Filarial worms are roundworms that live in the lymphatic system and lymph nodes of humans. There are three main types that can cause lymphatic filariasis by blocking the lymphatic system, leading to swelling. The worms live for 5-7 years and reproduce via microfilaria that are ingested by mosquitoes during blood feeding and develop further in the mosquito before infecting another human host. Diagnosis involves finding microfilaria in blood smears or detecting antibodies through serological tests. Treatment involves a single dose combination of albendazole and either ivermectin or diethylcarbamazine citrate.

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Dayana Prasanth
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124 views8 pages

Filarial Worms

Filarial worms are roundworms that live in the lymphatic system and lymph nodes of humans. There are three main types that can cause lymphatic filariasis by blocking the lymphatic system, leading to swelling. The worms live for 5-7 years and reproduce via microfilaria that are ingested by mosquitoes during blood feeding and develop further in the mosquito before infecting another human host. Diagnosis involves finding microfilaria in blood smears or detecting antibodies through serological tests. Treatment involves a single dose combination of albendazole and either ivermectin or diethylcarbamazine citrate.

Uploaded by

Dayana Prasanth
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

FILARIAL WORMS

White, slender roundworms


Three types: Wuchereria bancrofti,
Brugia malayi, Brugia timori
Live for 5-7 years, produce
millions of offspring
Block the lymphatic system
Network of channels and lymph
nodes that help maintain fluid levels
in the body
Blockage leads to edema (collection
of fluid in tissues)
Adult worms: sexes are separate.
Female worms are long and males are short.
Females are ovo-viviparous- lays eggs containing
embryos(microfilaria).
Microfilaria: have colourless sheath within which the
microfilaria moves with characteristic motility.
Present in peripheral blood.
Contain many nuclei.
Route of entry: Skin penetration of the infective larvae
deposited by the mosquito.
Infection then occurs in lymphatic system and lymph
nodes.
Infective stage is the microfilariae after development in
the mosquito.
Microfilaria in peripheral blood of humans is not
infective to another even if a blood transfusion occurs.
Life cycle: Definitive host – humans
Intermediate host – mosquitoes
Adult worm live in the lymph nodes and lymphatic
system of humans.
Microfilaria are released by gravid female which
circulates in the peripheral bloodstream. Seen in large
numbers at night.
Mosquito during blood meal may also take up these
microfilaria – which undergo development in the
mosquito. Mosquito then becomes infective.
Pathogenesis:
Classical filariasis(Lymphatic Filariasis) : caused by
the adult worm causing block in the lymphatic
channels. Also known as elephantiasis – due to massive
enlargement of part of the body effected. It is a
disfiguring and disabling disease, which is generally
 aquired in childhood. In the early stages,though there
are either no symptoms or non-specific symptoms, the
lymphatic system is damaged.
This stage can last for several years. Infected persons
sustain the transmission of the disease. The long term
physical consequences are painful swollen limbs
(lymphoedema or elephantiasis).
Occult filariasis: called occult(hidden) – as
microfilaria are not present in the peripheral blood.
Primarily due to hypersensitivity reaction to the
microfilarial antigens.
Patient has esinophilia, enlarged spleen and
lymphnodes.
No enlargement of body parts.
Lab diagnosis
Direct: Demonstration of agent: Larval stage in
peripheral blood. Adult stage in lymph nodes.
Indirect: 1. Demonstration of the presence of
antibodies by serological tests by ELISA, IHA, IFA.
These are used to diagnose occult filariasis.
2. Eosinophilia: due to allergic reactions caused by
parasite.
Treatment
The recommended regimen for treatment of filariasis
is   a single dose of two medicines are given together -
albendazole with  either ivermectin or
diethylcarbamazine citrate

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