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Loa Loa: The African"eye Worm"

Loa loa, also known as the African eye worm, is a parasitic filarial nematode transmitted by the Chrysops silacea fly in West and Central Africa. It causes Calabar swellings on the skin and can invade vital organs. Diagnosis involves examining blood for microfilariae or using serology and PCR tests. Treatment involves chemotherapy and surgically removing adult worms, while prevention focuses on treating infected individuals and controlling vectors.

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101 views15 pages

Loa Loa: The African"eye Worm"

Loa loa, also known as the African eye worm, is a parasitic filarial nematode transmitted by the Chrysops silacea fly in West and Central Africa. It causes Calabar swellings on the skin and can invade vital organs. Diagnosis involves examining blood for microfilariae or using serology and PCR tests. Treatment involves chemotherapy and surgically removing adult worms, while prevention focuses on treating infected individuals and controlling vectors.

Uploaded by

mulatumelese
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Loa loa

The Africaneye worm

Geographical distribution Also called Loaiasis or Loiasis West and Central parts of Africa

The vector is a day-time biting fly

Chrysops silacea

Calabar swelling
On hands, wrists, forearms or other sites. Painless, non-pitting.

Last from few hours to several days.


May recur for years. Due to hosts immune response to the parasites antigen. Generalized pruritis, fatigue and arthralgia are common.

Serious complications:
Microfilariae invade CNS, heart, Kidneys or other vital organs.

Adults live in the subcutaneous tissue of man.

Under the conjunctiva of the eye.

Loa loa adult in Calabar swelling x section

Diagnosis Clinical: worms under the skin or conjunctiva. Laboratory: - Microfilariae in blood (at day time). - Serology. - PCR. - Eosinophilia.

Treatment: Chemotherapy as in Bancroftian filariasis. Surgical removal of adults.

Prevention & control:


Treatment of patients. Vector control.

Summary
Parasite W. bancrofti B. malayi B. timori O. volvulus L. loa M. perstans M. streptocerca M. ozzardi
8/22/2013

Mosquito Culex Mansonia Anopheles/Mansonia Simulium flies Chrysops flies Culicoides Culicoides Culicoides

Disease LF LF LF River Blindness S/c swellings Serous cavity


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