Difference between revisions of "Filarioidea"
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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.). | ||
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| + | == 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). | ||
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| + | == 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 | ||
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| + | → taken up by biting arthropod intermediate host | ||
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| + | → L1 → L2 → L3 | ||
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| + | → enters wound | ||
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| + | → larvae develop and migrate to predilection site in final host. | ||
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[[Dirofilaria immitis]] | [[Dirofilaria immitis]] | ||
Revision as of 14:34, 23 December 2008
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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 trachea
- Dirofilaria immitis live in heart and pulmonary arteries of dogs and cats