What is the other name for Loa loa?

Loa loa, a filarid nematode commonly referred to as the African eye worm.

What is the meaning of Loa loa?

Loa loa is a filarial (arthropod-borne) nematode (roundworm) that causes Loa loa filariasis. Loa loa actually means "worm worm", but is commonly known as the "eye worm", as it localizes to the conjunctiva of the eye. Loa loa is commonly found in Africa.

Why is Loa loa called the eye worm?

Loa loa is referred to as “African Eye Worm” because it can be observed migrating across the periorbital tissues and into the subconjunctiva. This observation is not associated with lasting damage to tissues. However, discomfort and foreign body sensation are commonly reported symptoms. In rare cases, L.

Is Loa loa a roundworm?

Loa loa is a member of the filarial nematode (roundworm) family, which also includes worms that cause river blindness (Onchocerca volvulus) and elephantiasis (Wuchereria bancrofti).

Where is Loa loa site of infection?

Loiasis is caused by the nematodes (roundworm) Loa loa that can inhabit the lymphatics and subcutaneous tissues of humans.

Where do Loa loa come from?

Loa loa parasites are found in West and Central Africa. Ten countries have areas where there are high rates of infection (i.e., where more than 40% of the people who live in that area report that they have had eye worm in the past). An estimated 14.4 million people live in these areas of high rates of infection.

Is Loa loa in America?

Pathology examination of the gross specimen revealed an adult male Loa loa worm. Therefore, this is the first reported case in the United States of a male Loa loa worm. Peripheral blood smear revealed microfilaria.

What is the eye parasite called?

Loiasis, called African eye worm by most people, is caused by the parasitic worm Loa loa. It is passed on to humans through the repeated bites of deerflies (also known as mango flies or mangrove flies) of the genus Chrysops.

What does loiasis look like?

If you have loiasis, you may have itchy, non-painful swellings of the body that come and go. The swellings can show up anywhere though they are more common near joints. You may develop an eye worm that crawls across the surface of your eye. Sometimes you may see a worm that crawls under your skin.

What kind of worm is Loa loa?

Loiasis, called African eye worm by most people, is caused by the parasitic worm Loa loa. It is passed on to humans through the repeated bites of deerflies (also known as mango flies or mangrove flies) of the genus Chrysops. The flies that pass on the parasite breed in certain rain forests of West and Central Africa.

What are three types of roundworms?

Types of Parasitic Roundworm Diseases

• Ascariasis.
• Hookworm Disease.
• Pinworm Infection.
• Strongyloidiasis.
• Trichinosis.
• Whipworm Disease.

What is the host of Loa loa?

Background. Loiasis, commonly known as "African eye worm," is an infectious disease caused by the nematode Loa loa, which is transmitted to humans via the bite from one of two female Chrysops deerfly species: Chrysops silacea and Chrysops dimidiata.

What is the infective stage of Loa loa?

loa infective-stage larvae per fly. This process is temperature dependent and requires at least 7–10 days. On a subsequent feeding, the infective larvae escape from the fly mouthparts and enter a new host through the bite wound during blood-feeding. The primary vectors of L.

How do you know if you have Loa loa?

If you have loiasis, you may have itchy, non-painful swellings of the body that come and go. The swellings can show up anywhere though they are more common near joints. You may develop an eye worm that crawls across the surface of your eye. Sometimes you may see a worm that crawls under your skin.

What causes Loa loa?

Loiasis, called African eye worm by most people, is caused by the parasitic worm Loa loa. It is passed on to humans through the repeated bites of deerflies (also known as mango flies or mangrove flies) of the genus Chrysops. The flies that pass on the parasite breed in certain rain forests of West and Central Africa.

What parasite causes vision loss?

Onchocerciasis, or river blindness, is a neglected tropical disease (NTD) caused by the parasitic worm Onchocerca volvulus. It is transmitted through repeated bites by blackflies of the genus Simulium.

Can humans get Thelazia?

Spirurid nematodes in the genus Thelazia are primarily veterinary parasites, but may occasionally infect humans. The majority of zoonotic infections involve T. callipaeda (the Oriental eye worm).

How long does loiasis last?

• Although eye worm can be scary, it lasts less than one week (often just hours) and usually causes very little damage to the eye. People with loiasis can have itching all over the body (even when they do not have Calabar swellings), hives, muscle pains, joint pains, and tiredness.

How do you know you have loiasis?

If you have loiasis, you may have itchy, non-painful swellings of the body that come and go. The swellings can show up anywhere though they are more common near joints. You may develop an eye worm that crawls across the surface of your eye. Sometimes you may see a worm that crawls under your skin.

What are 4 types of worms?

• There are several types of worms that can cause problems in children, including threadworm, roundworm, tapeworm, whipworm and hookworm.

What are 3 diseases caused by roundworms?

Parasitic Roundworm Diseases

• Ascariasis.
• Hookworm Disease.
• Pinworm Infection.
• Strongyloidiasis.
• Trichinosis.
• Whipworm Disease.

What is the most common roundworm disease?

Pinworm is the most common roundworm infection in the United States. It most often occurs in children and can spread easily in school or daycare. The infection starts when eggs enter the mouth and travel to the intestines. The eggs hatch and develop into adult pinworms.

How many people have Loa loa?

Endemic to Central Africa, loiasis – or African eye worm (caused by the filarial nematode Loa loa) – affects more than 10 million people.

What is the life cycle of Loa loa?

1. When an infected fly bites a person, it deposits Loa loa larvae onto the person's skin, and the larvae enter the bite wound. 2. The larvae mature into adults in tissues under the skin (in subcutaneous tissue).

What disease does Loa loa cause?

Parasites – Loiasis

Loiasis, called African eye worm by most people, is caused by the parasitic worm Loa loa. It is passed on to humans through the repeated bites of deerflies (also known as mango flies or mangrove flies) of the genus Chrysops.

What is the prevention of Loa loa?

You may reduce your risk of bites by using insect repellants that contain DEET (N,N-Diethyl-meta-toluamide) and wearing long sleeves and long pants during the day, which is when deerflies bite. Treating your clothes with permethrin may also help.