Difference between revisions of "Filarioidea"
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[[Image:Dirofilaria immitus.jpg|thumb|right|150px|''Dirofilaria immitus'' - Courtesy of the Laboratory of Parasitology, University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine]] | [[Image:Dirofilaria immitus.jpg|thumb|right|150px|''Dirofilaria immitus'' - Courtesy of the Laboratory of Parasitology, University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine]] | ||
The filarial worms are of great importance in human medicine in the tropics, causing diseases such as elephantitis and river blindness, but their veterinary interest is limited - with the important exception of ''Dirofilaria'', the canine heartworm, which is a major cause of morbidity and death in warmer, humid regions (including parts of the USA, Australia, southern Europe etc.). | The filarial worms are of great importance in human medicine in the tropics, causing diseases such as elephantitis and river blindness, but their veterinary interest is limited - with the important exception of ''Dirofilaria'', the canine heartworm, which is a major cause of morbidity and death in warmer, humid regions (including parts of the USA, Australia, southern Europe etc.). | ||
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== General Appearance == | == General Appearance == | ||
| − | *Non-bursate | + | *Non-bursate |
| − | *Typically, they are long (up to 12cm or more), but filamentous | + | *Typically, they are long (up to 12cm or more), but filamentous |
| − | *Live in connective tissues | + | *Live in connective tissues |
| − | * | + | **The most important veterinary species is ''Dirofilaria immitis'' which lives in the right heart and pulmonary arteries |
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== General Life-Cycle == | == General Life-Cycle == | ||
| − | *The females of most species do not produce eggs, but instead they produce motile embryos ('''microfilariae''') | + | *The females of most species do not produce eggs, but instead they produce motile embryos ('''microfilariae''') |
*Female worm → microfilariae → accumulate in blood or tissue fluid | *Female worm → microfilariae → accumulate in blood or tissue fluid | ||
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→ enters wound | → enters wound | ||
| − | → larvae develop and migrate to predilection site in final host | + | → larvae develop and migrate to predilection site in final host |
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[[Dirofilaria immitis]] | [[Dirofilaria immitis]] | ||
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[[Stephanofilaria spp.]] | [[Stephanofilaria spp.]] | ||
| − | *''Filaroides osleri'' causes infection in [[Respiratory Parasitic Infections - Pathology#Filaroides osleri|trachea]] | + | *''Filaroides osleri'' causes infection in [[Respiratory Parasitic Infections - Pathology#Filaroides osleri|trachea]]in gogs |
*''Dirofilaria immitis'' live in heart and [[Respiratory Parasitic Infections - Pathology#Dirofilaria immitis|pulmonary arteries]] of dogs and cats | *''Dirofilaria immitis'' live in heart and [[Respiratory Parasitic Infections - Pathology#Dirofilaria immitis|pulmonary arteries]] of dogs and cats | ||
Revision as of 13:05, 9 January 2009
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This article is still under construction. |
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The filarial worms are of great importance in human medicine in the tropics, causing diseases such as elephantitis and river blindness, but their veterinary interest is limited - with the important exception of Dirofilaria, the canine heartworm, which is a major cause of morbidity and death in warmer, humid regions (including parts of the USA, Australia, southern Europe etc.).
General Appearance
- Non-bursate
- Typically, they are long (up to 12cm or more), but filamentous
- Live in connective tissues
- The most important veterinary species is Dirofilaria immitis which lives in the right heart and pulmonary arteries
General Life-Cycle
- The females of most species do not produce eggs, but instead they produce motile embryos (microfilariae)
- Female worm → microfilariae → accumulate in blood or tissue fluid
→ taken up by biting arthropod intermediate host
→ L1 → L2 → L3
→ enters wound
→ larvae develop and migrate to predilection site in final host
- Filaroides osleri causes infection in tracheain gogs
- Dirofilaria immitis live in heart and pulmonary arteries of dogs and cats