Filiarial Nematodes Flashcards
What are the symptoms of lymphatic filariasis?
Elephantiasis, Hydrocoele, Chyluria
What are the 2 pathologies caused by filarial nematodes?
Lymphatic filariasis and Onchoceriasis
What is elephantiasis
Cracked skin where bacteria can flourish
What is Hydrocoele
Most common symptom of LF, huge balls, adult worm is in the scrotal lymphatics
What is chyluria
hidden internal damage to kidneys
intermittent discharge of lymph into renal pelvis and urine
What causes lymphatic filariasis
Thread like parasitic worms that lodge in the lymphatics system.
How long do the threadworms live in LF?
4-6 years
How is LF transmitted?
Via ANOPHELES mosquito
How do you treat LF
interrupt transmission - eliminate MF from bloodstream
Control morbidity - assist lymph flow
onchoceriasis overview
Dermatitis - ‘river blindness’
30-80cm worms
live in nodules under skin for 12 years producing MF
Blackfly
What causes the pathology in onchoceriasis
MF circulating under the skin, unlike in LF where it is the adult that causes the pathology
Eye manifestation of onchoceriasis
- MF migrate to eye where they die and cause scarring
- 2nd leading cause of blindness of infectious origin
Skin manifestations of onchoceriasis
- chronic dermatitis (itching)
- Dying MF cause subcutaneous inflammatory response, chronically thickened lizard skin
- skin becomes lax and loses pigment
What are the three groups of people in regards to filarial nematodes
Endemic normal (EN) healthy
Microfilaraemic (MF) tolerant
elephantiasis (CP) chronic
What gene may block some pathology of LF
IgG4
