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Filarial worms are nematodes characterized by the production of microfilariae , and the existence of two hosts in their life cycle. Wuchereria bancrofti begins its life as a microfilariae where it migrates to the skin's surface and peripheral blood system. Next, the worm is transferred into a vector; the most common vectors are the mosquito species: Culex , Anopheles, Aedes, and Mansonia . Inside their second host, it matures into motile larvae. When its current host feeds, and it is egested into the blood stream of its new human host. The larvae moves to the Lymph nodes, predominantly in the legs and genital area, and develops into adult worm over the course of a year. By this time, an adult female can produce microfilariae itself.
This specific filarial worm, Wuchereria bancrofti, displays a large size gap between the male and female. The adult male worm is long and slender, between four and five centimeters in length, a tenth of a centimeter in diameter, and features a curved tail. The female, in contrast, is six to ten centimeters long, and three times larger in diameter than the male. This size deviation can be attributed to the vast numbers of microfilariae that the female produces each day.
The onset of symptoms is slow, but the effects are very apparent after several years. During the initial inflammatory stage, a host can exhibit swelling, granulation lesionA lesion is a non-specific term referring to abnormal tissue in the body. It can be caused by any disease process including trauma (physical, chemical, electrical), infection, neoplasm, metabolic and autoimmune. Not all lesions require treatment.s, and impaired circulation. Following, the lymph nodes are enlarged and dilated. They become hardened and clogged with fibrous tissue, and this prevents the lymphatic system from operating correctly. The microfilariae also cause swelling, thickening, and discolouration of the skinThis article is about skin in the biological sense. For other uses of skin see skin (computing) and skinhead. Regarding exposure of the skin to be seen by others, or prevention of this, see nudity, nudism, modesty, clothing. Fruits such as oranges also ha. Without the proper drainage of fluids, the affected tissue will expand and Elephantiasis, a gross expansion of body, will result, and death can follow.
The parasite's severe symptoms can be avoided by the use of therapeutic drugs. Both DiethylcarbamazineDiethylcarbamazine (DEC) is an anthelmintic drug that does not resemble other antiparasitic compounds. It is a synthetic organic compound which is highly specific for several parasites and does not contain any toxic metallic elements. DEC is indicated for and Sodium caparsolate are used to kill the worms and their microfilariae. Diethylcarbamazine is most commonly used and is administered orally. Protection is similar to that of other mosquito spread illnesses; one can use both physical and chemical barriers, a mosquito net and insect repellent, respectively.
Note: Joseph Cary Merrick, The " Elephant ManThe Elephant Man is a 1980 biographical film which tells the story of the 19th century British deformed celebrity Joseph Merrick. It stars Anthony Hopkins, John Hurt, Anne Bancroft, John Gielgud, Wendy Hiller, Michael Elphick, Hannah Gordon and Freddie Jo", was not afflicted by a parasitic worm, but by Proteus syndromeProteus Syndrome (PS) is a congenital disorder that causes skin overgrowth, atypical bone development, and tumour appearance over half the body. Michael Cohen identified the syndrome in 1979, over 100 cases of it have been confirmed worldwide. There may b.