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Nematode - Wuchereria bancrofti & Brugia malayi
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Nematode - Wuchereria bancrofti & Brugia malayi

Wuchereria bancrofti and Brugia malayi cause lymphatic filariasis.
  • Microfilariae are transmitted by mosquitoes.
– Microfilariae have tapered tails, and characteristic sheaths (Onchocerca volvulus has a similar appearance).
  • Larvae grow to adults and reproduce in the host lymphatic system.
  • Infection can lead to swelling, most commonly in the lower extremities.
  • Upon repeated exposure or in more serious infections, fibrous tissue can form around the parasites.
When this blocks the lymphatic flow, massive swellings in the groin and legs occur; this is called elephantiasis.* Adult nematodes rely on a bacterial endosymbiont, Wolbachia,* for their metabolic and reproductive functions. – Thus, alternative treatments for lymphatic filariasis target these bacteria.
Image Credits:
"CDC - DPDx - Lymphatic Filariasis," December 14, 2017. https://www.cdc.gov/dpdx/lymphaticfilariasis/index.html.
"Elephantiasis" of the Leg. https://wellcomeimages.org/indexplus/obf_images/ce/1e/3aa910f4cdef6064ab2f1be38b2f.jpg Gallery: https://wellcomeimages.org/indexplus/image/L0062014.html Wellcome Collection gallery (2018-03-21): https://wellcomecollection.org/works/wrq287dv CC-BY-4.0. Accessed December 4, 2018.
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:%27Elephantiasis%27_of_the_leg_Wellcome_L0062014.jpg.

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