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Loiasis (African Eye Worm)

  1. Causative Agent
    Loa loa

    ADULT resides in the subcutaneous tissues
  2. Division
    filarid nematode
  3. Signs and Symptoms
    • 1. Loiasis is often asymptomatic.
    • 2. Episodic angioedema (Calabar swellings) and subconjunctival
    • migration of an adult worm can occur.
  4. Intermediate Host
    • Flies from two species of the genus Chrysops:
    • 1. Chrysops silacea
    • 2. Chrysops dimidiata
  5. Definitive Host
    Human
  6. Transmission
    • During a blood meal, an infected fly introduces third stage
    • filarial larvae onto the skin of the human host, where they penetrate into the bite wound.
  7. Diagnosis
    • 1. Loa loa is usually diagnosed by the finding of microfilaria in
    • peripheral blood smears or adults in the subconjunctiva.

    • 2. Microfilariae of Loa loa exhibit diurnal periodicity and a diagnosis is best made from blood collected during the mid-day (10AM-2PM). The presence of Calabar swellings can aid in the
    • diagnosis.
Author
kyledianne
ID
364860
Card Set
Loiasis (African Eye Worm)
Description
Updated

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