Microbiology and Immunology 2500A/B Lecture Notes - Lecture 42: Filarioidea, Muscle Biopsy, Jerky
29 Mar 2017
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Document Summary
Filariform larvae penetrate intact skin pruritis and unusual skin eruptions. The only helminth that can reproduce in the body rhabtidiform larva. Chronic skin: larva currens and stationary urticaria. Pulmonary: migration of larvae through lungs produces cough, wheezing and transient pulmonary infiltrates. Intense dissemination of filariform larvae to lungs and other tissues. May result in septic shock and death. Diagnosis requires finding the larval stages in feces or duodenal fluids (need 4-6 specimens) Elisa and western blot are sensitive and specific (cross reacts with filaria and other helminthic infections) but do not distinguish between current and past infection. On verge of eradication (126 cases in 2014, 22 in 2015) Prevented by simple filtration of larvae-infected copepods from drinking water. Filarial nematodes: subcutaneous filariasis, lymphatic filariasis, serous cavity filariasis (abdomen) 2nd most common cause of blindness worldwide. Microfilaria produced which migrate to the skin during daylight chronic skin problems. Mf also migrate to cornea scarring produces corneal opacity.
