Loa loa Flashcards
Loa loa
Also known as the
“Eye Worm”
Loa loa
- sheathed
- nuclei up to the tip of the tail
Microfilariae
Loa loa
exhibits______ periodicity (microfilaria is shed in peripheral blood constantly during the____, rarely at____)
diurnal
day; night
Loa loa
• Loiasis
• Causes_______
- allergic reaction due to worm migration in tissue and death in capillaries
Calabar swellings
Loa loa
• Diagnosis:
- demonstrate in___________ sheathed microfilariae with continuous nuclei to the tip of the tail
- found in_____
blood smears (thick and thin)
Africa
Loa loa means
Means Worm worm
Common Name:
African Eye worm
Vector:
Chrysops fly (Deer fly, Horse fly, Mango fly) –-
Day-biting flies
Infective Stage:
Third stage larvae (L3)
Diagnostic Stage:
• _____in spinal fluid, urine, CSF, PBS, lungs;
•_____ in subcutaneous biopsy
Microfilaria
Adult
Habitat:
; affects conjunctiva of the eye (AFRICAN EYE WORM)
• Subcutaneous tissue
Epidemiology
• Found in
West Africa and Ethiopia
Biology: Adult
• Commonly found in the
subcutaneous tissue
Biology: Microfilaria
Sheath?
Tail?
Sheathed
tapered with nuclei extending to the tip
______periodicity
• Day:
• Night:
• Non-circulating phase:
Diurnal
Blood
Spinal fluids, urine, sputum
Lungs
Pathogenesis and Clinical Manifestations
Calabar swelling
Eye worm
Generalized pruritus
Lungs
• Localized, non-tender, episodic itchy swellings or subcutaneous edema found on arms, legs, near joints
Calabar Swelling
• Visible movement of the adult worm across the surface of the eye; cause congestion, itching, pain, and light sensitivity but little damage
Eye worm
• Fluid collection
• Lung inflammation
Lungs
Diagnosis
Daytime (_______): specimen?
• Non-circulation phase:_____ (most of the time)
10am to 2PM
Peripheral blood
lungs
Diagnosis: Adult
Identification of adult worm in the_____ or under the____
subconjunctivae
skin
Diagnosis
_____test for Loa loa
Antibody
Treatment
Diethylcarbamazine (DEC)
Albendazole
• Drug of choice: kill both microfilariae and adult, quicker resolution
• Effective against microfilariae and adult worms
Diethylcarbamazine (DEC)
Treatment
• May be given if DEC is not effective after repeated treatment
• Slow response
Albendazole
Brain swelling resulting to coma and/or death
• Adverse event after_____ treatment if with heavy infection in the brain
• Simultaneous administration of (2)
DEC
antihistamine and steroids
Treatment
of migrating adult worm, not curative
• Surgical removal
Prevention and Control
• May take weekly_____ 300mg if visiting endemic area
-• Use____
• Use clothing that covers most of the skin
DEC
insect repellant
