Question

Write scientific names of the two species of filarial worms causing filariasis. How do they affect the body of infected persons? How does the disease spread?

Answer 1

Hint: Filariasis is a parasitic disease caused by an infection with roundworms. The condition is spread by blood - feeding insects like mosquitoes and black flies.

Complete answer:
- Lymphatic filariasis is caused by infection with parasites. The two species of filarial worms causing filariasis are Wuchereria bancrofti, Brugia malayi.

- Lymphatic filariasis impairs the lymphatic system and can lead to the abnormal enlargement of body parts, causing pain. The filarial worms occupy the lymphatic system, including the lymph nodes; in chronic cases, these worms lead to the syndrome of elephantiasis.

- Lymphatic filariasis, commonly known as elephantiasis. The infection occurs when filarial parasites are transmitted to humans through mosquitoes. Infection is usually acquired in childhood causing hidden damage to the lymphatic system. Infection is usually acquired in childhood causing hidden damage to the lymphatic system.
Mosquitoes are infected with microfilariae by ingesting blood when biting an infected host. Microfilariae mature into infective larvae within the mosquito. When infected mosquitoes bite people, mature parasite larvae are deposited on the skin from where they can enter the body. The larvae then migrate to the lymphatic vessels where they develop into adult worms, thus continuing the cycle of transmission.

- Infection occurs when filarial parasites are transmitted to humans through mosquitoes.
Lymphatic filariasis is transmitted by different types of mosquitoes such as the Culex mosquito, widespread across urban and semi-urban areas, Anopheles, mainly found in rural areas and Aedes.

Note: It is to be noted that there is no known vaccine or cure for lymphatic filariasis, the most effective method that exists to control the disease is prevention.