Filarial Worms.

There are many species of filarial worms, but only a few infect people. Species that infect
people may reside in:

(1.) Tissues under the skin (subcutaneous tissues) or in the eye:

(a.) African eye worm, Loa loa, which causes loiasis, or
(b.) Onchocerca volvulus, which causes river blindness, onchocerciasis.

Fig 1. Loa Loa.

Symptoms.
Adult Loa loa worms migrate under the skin causing temporary nodules and occasionally cross the
eye under the clear, outer membrane (conjunctiva). Adult Onchocerca live in nodules under the skin
and produce microfilariae that cause itching and damage to the skin. They also enter the eye and
cause inflammation and scarring that can result in blindness after many years.
 (2.) Lymph tissues: Wuchereria bancrofti, Brugia malayi, or Brugia timori, which cause
lymphatic filariasis.

Fig 1.1 Wuchereria Bancrofti.

Symptoms

Inside the body, adult filarial worms can migrate and form lumps in the lymph vessels or under the
skin, depending on type of filarial worm causing infection. Adult female worms produce immature
forms of the worm called microfilariae. Much of the damage and many symptoms caused by filarial
infections result from the body's inflammatory responses to the adult worms or microfilariae.

When lymphatic tissues (cells and organs that make up the lymphatic system) are involved, adult
Wuchereria or Brugia worms and the inflammation that accompanies them can block lymph vessels,
causing areas of the legs, arms, or genitals to become inflamed and swell. After many years, the legs,
arms, and genitals may become massively enlarged and disfigured.

Circulating microfilariae of Wuchereria or Brugia can induce allergic reactions in the lungs resulting
in cough, shortness of breath, and asthma-like symptoms.

Transmission.
  An infected fly (such as a horsefly or deerfly) or mosquito bites a person and deposits
larvae of the worm in the skin.

 The larvae mature into adult worms under the skin or in lymph tissues.
 The adult worms produce offspring called microfilariae, which circulate in the
bloodstream or reside in the skin.

 The infection is spread when the infected person is bitten by a fly or mosquito, which
ingests the microfilariae.

 Inside the insect, the microfilariae develop into larvae that can cause infection.

The insect then transmits these larvae when it bites another person.