Fialariasis Symptoms, Diagnosis and Treatment

Nematode

Introduction:

Filariasis is, a disease group affecting humans, caused by nematode parasites of the order Filariidae,

and transmitted by mosquitoes - Culex quinquefasciatus is globally the most important vector.

3 of the species are primarily responsible for most cases of human Filariasis

• Wucheraria bancrofti (lymphatic)

• Brugia malayi (lymphatic)

• Onchocerca volvulus (subcutaneous)

Loa Lo Parasite

India is one of the five countries with the highest estimated disease burden worldwide (~38%). 115 million cases worldwide (45.5 million India, 40 million subsaharan Africa). 

Sign and Symptoms:

Filiriasis Patient

 The most spectacular symptom of lymphatic filariasis is elephantiasis—edema with thickening of the pores and skin and underlying tissues—which become the primary disorder discovered to be transmitted with the aid of mosquito bites. Elephantiasis effects when the parasites lodges in the lymphatic systems.
 

Diagnosis of Filaria:

• Conventional method examination of thick smear (stained)(counting chamber method)

• Detection of circulating filarial antigen – rapid format card test/ immunochromatographic card test (ICT)

• Serodiagnosis

• PCR-based assays for DNA

• Imaging studies (high frequency ultrasound, lymphoscintigraphy)

Note:

 Antibody detection provides an early means to detect filarial parasite infection.

 Presence of IgM antibody to the parasite antigens suggest current infection, whereas, IgG corresponds to late stage or past infection. 







Refrences:
 1. Center for Disease Control and Prevention. "Lymphatic Filariasis". Retrieved 18 July 2010.
2.  "Lymphatic filariasis". Health Topics A to Z. Source: The World Health Organization. Retrieved 2013-03-24.
3. "Seva Fila" (PDF). JB Tropical Disease Research Centre & Department of Biochemistry, Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences.
4. The Carter Center, Lymphatic Filariasis Elimination Program, retrieved 2008-07-17
Jump up ^ U.S. Centers for Disease Control, Lymphatic Filariasis Treatment, retrieved 2008-07-17
5. Bockarie, Moses; Hoerauf, Achim; Taylor, Mark J. (08 October 2010). "Lymphatic filariasis and onchocerciasis". The Lancet. 376 (9747): 1175-1185. Check date values in: |date= (help);
6. Turkington, Carol A. "Filariasis". The Gale Encyclopedia of Public Health. 1: 351-353.
7. Hewitt, Kirsten; Whitworth, James AG (1 August 2005). "Filariasis". Medicine. 33 (8): 61–64.
8. Gaur RL, Dixit S, Sahoo MK, Khanna M, Singh S, Murthy PK (2007). "Anti-filarial activity of novel formulations of albendazole against experimental brugian filariasis"