Wuchereria: From 1 Different Sources
n. a genus of white threadlike parasitic worms (see filaria) that live in the lymphatic vessels. W. bancrofti is a tropical and subtropical species that causes *elephantiasis, lymphangitis, and chyluria. The immature forms concentrate in the lungs during the day. At night they become more numerous in the blood vessels of the skin, from which they are taken up by blood-sucking mosquitoes, acting as carriers of the diseases they cause.
Marked swelling and inflammation of the lymphatics, associated with hypertrophy and thickening of the overlying skins and subcutaneous tissues, usually in the lower limbs and external genitalia. While not exclusive to filariasis, it is seen often in chronic filariasis due to Wuchereria bancrofti and Brugia malayi. The affected areas often taken on a woody character and can be extensive. See also filariasis.... elephantiasis
A parasitic infection caused by filarial nematode worms, such as Wuchereria bancrofti and Brugia malayi, causing a variety of illnesses. See also elephantiasis and onchocerciasis.... filariasis
A genus of mosquitoes, some species of which can be involved in the transmission of human filariasis due to Brugia malayi and Wuchereria bancrofti.... mansonia
Recurrence at regular intervals of symptoms in malaria, characterised clinically by paroxysms and resulting from the invasion of the blood by new generations of parasites. Periodicity may be quotidian, tertian, quartan or double quartan according to the intervals between paroxysms. Periodicity also used to refer to the cyclic appearance in the blood of microfilariae of Wuchereria bancrofti (nocturnal) and Loa loa (diurnal).... periodicity
A syndro me found in certain tropical areas in which patients present with hypereosinophilia, pulmonary infiltration, cough, chest pain and asthma-like attacks. Associated with infection by the filarial nematodes Wuchereriabancrofti and Brugia malayi. These infections are usually amicrofilaraemic, , especially in expatriates, i.e. no microfilariae can be detected in peripheral blood.... tropical eosinophilia
n. a genus of mosquitoes, worldwide in distribution, of which there are some 600 species. Certain species are important as vectors of filariasis (see also Wuchereria) and viral encephalitis.... culex
n. (pl. filariae) any of the long threadlike nematode worms that, as adults, are parasites of human connective and lymphatic tissues capable of causing disease. They include the genera *Brugia, *Loa, *Onchocerca, and *Wuchereria. Filariae differ from the intestinal nematodes (see hookworm) in that they undergo part of their development in the body of a bloodsucking insect, e.g. a mosquito, on which they subsequently depend for their transmission to another human host. See also microfilaria. —filarial adj.... filaria
n. (pl. microfilariae) the motile embryo of certain nematodes (see filaria). The slender microfilariae, 150–300 ?m in length, are commonly found in the circulating blood or lymph of patients suffering an infection with any of the filarial worms, e.g. Wuchereria. They mature into larvae, which are infective, within the body of a bloodsucking insect, such as a mosquito.... microfilaria
(roundworm) n. any one of a large group of worms having an unsegmented cylindrical body, tapering at both ends. This distinguishes nematodes from other *helminths. Nematodes occur either as free-living forms in the sea, fresh water, and soil or as parasites of plants, animals, and humans. *Hookworms and *threadworms infest the alimentary canal. *Filariae are found in the lymphatic tissues. The *guinea worm and *Onchocerca affect connective tissue. Some nematodes (e.g. threadworms) are transmitted from host to host by the ingestion of eggs; others (e.g. *Wuchereria) by the bite of a bloodsucking insect.... nematode
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