cortez loaloa

7/29/2019 CORTEZ Loaloa

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Loa loa is the filarialnematode (roundworm) species that

causes Loa loa filariasis(subcutaneous

filariasis) or loiasis.It is commonly

known as the

"eye worm.Its geographic

distribution includes

Africa and India.


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As of 2009, loiasis is endemic to 11 countries,

all in western or central Africa, and an estimated

12-13 million people have the disease. The highestincidence is seen in the following countries:

Cameroon, Republic of the Congo,

Democratic Republic of Congo, Central African RepubliNigeria, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea

The rates ofLoa loa infection are lower but it is

still present in and Angola, Benin, Chad and Uganda.

The disease was once endemic to the western

African countries of Ghana, Guinea, Guinea Bissau,

Cte d'Ivoire and Mali but has since disappeared.


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Morphology

Loa loa worms have a simple body including

a head, body, and tail.Males range from 20mm to 34mm long

and 350m to 430m wide.

Females range from 20mm to 70mm longand are about 425m wide.


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Primary Reservoir:Humans

Others:Horses

Hippopotamus

primates


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Vector

The young larvae develop

in horseflies of the genus Chrysops

which infect humans by biting them

Yellow fly Deer fly


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Three species involved in the life cycle

include the parasite Loa loa, the fly vector,

and the human host:


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Loa loa parasites infect human hosts by

travelling through subcutaneous tissues

These parasites cause inflammation in the skin

wherever they travel. If a parasite stops in one

place for a short period of time, the human hostwill suffer from local inflammation known as

Calabar swellings.

These often occur in the wrist and ankle joints

but disappear as soon as the parasite begins to

move again


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Parasites can also travel through and infect

the eye, causing the swelling of the eye.Common symptoms include itching,

joint pain, fatigue, and death.


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Reproduction

Like all roundworms, Loa loa is sexual so amale and female worm must be present in the

Same host for a full infection to ensue.

Upon reproduction the female worm produces

sheathed eggs called microfilariae which

circulate in the blood stream.


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The main methods of diagnosis include the

presence of microfilariae in the blood, the

presence of a worm in the eye, and thepresence of

skin swellings.

Surgical

removal

of the worm

Can easily

be

performed.


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The common treatment for the disease is a

use of one of two drugs:

diethylcarbamazine (DEC) or Ivermectin.

Ivermectin (22,23-dihydroavermectin B1a +

22,23-dihydroavermectin B1b) is a broad-

spectrum antiparasitic avermectin medicine.


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Diethylcarbamazine (DEC) is an anthelmintic

drug that does not resemble other

antiparasitic compounds. It is a syntheticorganic compound which is highly specific for

several parasites and does not contain

any toxic metallic elements.

Anthelminticsor antihelminthics are drugs

that expel parasitic worms from the body, by

either stunning or killing them.

They may also be called vermifuges (stunning)

or vermicides (killing).

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