Filariasi1

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Filariasis (Philariasis) is a parasitic and infectioustropical disease, that is caused by

thread-like filarial nematode worms in the superfamily Filarioidea, also known as "filariae".

There are 9 known filarial nematodes which use humans as the definitive host. These are

divided into 3 groups according to the niche within the body that they occupy: Lymphatic

Filariasis, Subcutaneous Filariasis, and Serous Cavity Filariasis. Lymphatic Filariasis is

caused by the worms ''Wuchereria bancrofti'', ''Brugia malayi'', and ''Brugia timori''. Theseworms occupy the lymphatic system, including thelymph nodes, and in chronic cases these

worms lead to the diseaseElephantiasis. Subcutaneous Filariasis is caused by ''Loa loa'' (the

African eye worm), ''Mansonella streptocerca'', ''Onchocerca volvulus'', and ''Dracunculus

medinensis'' (the guinea worm). These worms occupy the subcutaneous layer of the skin,

the fat layer. Serous Cavity Filariasis is caused by the worms ''Mansonella perstans'' and

''Mansonella ozzardi'', which occupy the serous cavity of the abdomen. In all cases, the

transmitting vectors are either blood sucking insects (fly or mosquito) or Copepod

crustaceans in the case of ''Dracunculus medinensis''.

Human filarial nematode worms have a complicated life cycle, which primarily consists of

five stages. After the male and female worm mate, the female gives birth to live

microfilariae by the thousands. The microfilariae are taken up by the vector insect

(intermediate host) during a blood meal. In the intermediate host, the microfilariae molt

and develop into 3rd stage (infective) larvae. Upon taking another blood meal the vector

insect injects the infectious larvae into the dermis layer of our skin. After approximately one

year the larvae molt through 2 more stages, maturing into the adult worm.

Individuals infected by filarial worms may be described as either "microfilaraemic" or

"amicrofilaraemic," depending on whether or not microfilaria can be found in their peripheral

blood. Filariasis is diagnosed in microfilaraemic cases primarily through direct observation of

microfilaria in the peripheral blood. Occult filariasis is diagnosed in amicrofilaraemic cases

based on clinical observations and, in some cases, by finding a circulating antigen in the

blood.

Filariasis Symptoms

The most spectacular symptom of lymphatic filariasis is elephantiasisedemawith

thickening of the skin and underlying tissueswhich was the first disease discovered to be

transmitted by mosquito bites. Elephantiasis results when the parasites lodge in the

lymphatic system.

Elephantiasis affects mainly the lower extremities, while the ears, mucus membranes, and

amputation stumps are affected less frequently. However, different species of filarial worms

tend to affect different parts of the body: ''Wuchereria bancrofti'' can affect the legs,arms,vulva, and breasts, while ''Brugia timori'' rarely affects the genitals. Interestingly,

those who develop the chronic stages of elephantiasis are usually amicrofilaraemic, and

often have adverse immunlogical reactions to the microfilaria as well as the adult worm.

The subcutaneous worms present with skin rashes, urticarial papules, andarthritis, as well

as hyper- and hypopigmentation macules. ''Onchocerca volvulus'' manifests itself in the

eyes causing "river blindness"(onchocerciasis), the 2nd leading cause of blindness in the
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world. Serous cavity filariasis presents with symptoms similar to subcutaneous filariasis, in

addition toabdominal painbecause these worms are also deep tissue dwellers.

Filariasis Diagnosis

Filariasis is usually diagnosed by identifying microfilariae on a Giemsa stained thick bloodfilm. Blood must be drawn at night, since the microfilaria circulate at night(nocturnal

periodicity), when their mosquito vector is most likely to bite. Also,decreased peripheral

temperature may attract more microfilariae.

Concentration Methods

Various concentration methods are applied:

i. Membrane filter ii. Knott's concentration method

iii. Sedimentation technique

Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and antigenic assays are also available for making the

diagnosis. The latter are particularly useful in amicrofilaraemic cases.

Lymph Node aspirrate,Chylus fluid may also yield Microfilriae.

Imaging like CT,MRI may reveal "Filarial Dance Sign" in Chylus fluid.

X-ray can show calcified adult worm in lymphatics.

DEC provokation test is performed to obtain satisfying number of parasite in day-time

samples.

Circulating Filarial Antigen (CFA) may be detected by PCR.

Xenodiagnosis is now obsolete

EOsinophilia is a non-specific primary sign.

Filariasis Prevention

In 1993, the International Task Force for Disease Eradication declared lymphatic filariaisis to

be one of six potentially eradicable diseases. With consistent treatment, the reduction of

microfilariae means the disease will not be transmitted, the adult worms will die out, and

the cycle will be broken.

The efforts of the Global Programme to Eliminate LF are estimated to have already

prevented 6.6 million new filariasis cases from developing in children, and to have stopped

the progression of the disease in another 9.5 million people who have already contracted it.
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Dr Mwele Malecela, who chairs the programme, said: "We are on track to accomplish our

goal of elimination by 2020."

Filariasis Treatment

The recommended treatment for killing adult filarial worms in patients outside the UnitedStates is albendazole (a broad spectrum anthelmintic) combined with ivermectin.

Filarial parasites have symbiotic bacteria in the genus Wolbachia, which live inside the

worm. When the symbiotic bacteria are killed by the antibiotic, the worms themselves also

die.

Clinical trials in June 2005 by the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine reported that an 8

week course almost completely eliminated microfilaraemia.

Filariasis Epidemiology

Filariasis is endemic in tropical and sub-tropical regions of Asia, Africa, Central, South

America and Pacific Island nations, with more than 120 million people infected and one

billion people at risk for infection.

In communities where lymphatic filariasis is endemic, as many as 10 percent of women can

be afflicted with swollen limbs, and 50 percent of men can suffer from mutilating genital

symptoms.

Filariasis History

Lymphatic Filariasis is thought to have affected humans since approximately 4000 years ago. Artifacts from ancient Egypt (2000 BC) and the Nok civilization in West Africa (500 BC)

show possibleelephantiasissymptoms. The first clear reference to the disease occurs in

ancient Greek literature, where scholars differentiated the often similar symptoms of

lymphatic filariasis from those ofleprosy.

The first documentation of symptoms occurred in the 16th century, when Jan Huyghen van

Linschoten wrote about the disease during the exploration of Goa. Similar symptoms were

reported by subsequent explorers in areas of Asia and Africa, though an understanding of

the disease did not began to develop until centuries later.

In 1866, Timothy Lewis, building on the work of Jean-Nicolas Demarquay and Otto Henry

Wucherer, made the connection between microfilariae and elephantiasis, establishing the

course of research that would ultimately explain the disease. In 1876, Joseph Bancroft

discovered the adult form of the worm. In 1877, the life cycle involving an arthropod vector

was theorized by Patrick Manson, who proceeded to demonstrate the presence of the worms

in mosquitoes. Manson incorrectly hypothesized that the disease was transmitted through

skin contact with water in which the mosquitoes had laid eggs. In 1900, George Carmichael

Low determined the actual transmission method by discovering the presence of the worm in

the proboscis of the mosquito vector.
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