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| + | #REDIRECT[[:Category:Filarioidea]] |
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− | {{toplink
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− | |linkpage =Parasites
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− | |linktext =PARASITES
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− | |pagetype=Bugs
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− | |sublink1=Nematodes
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− | |subtext1=NEMATODES
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− | <br>
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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 ==
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− | *Non-bursate.
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− | *Typically, they are long (up to 12cm or more), but filamentous.
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− | *Live in connective tissues.
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− | *(The most important veterinary species is ''Dirofilaria immitis'' which lives in the right heart and pulmonary arteries).
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− | == General Life-Cycle ==
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− | *The females of most species do not produce eggs, but instead they produce motile embryos ('''microfilariae''').
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− | *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]]
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− | [[Onchocerca spp.]]
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− | [[Parafilaria spp.]]
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− | [[Setaria spp.]]
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− | [[Elaeophora scheideri]]
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− | [[Stephanofilaria spp.]]
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− | *''Filaroides osleri'' causes infection in [[Respiratory Parasitic Infections - Pathology#Filaroides osleri|trachea]]
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− | *''Dirofilaria immitis'' live in heart and [[Respiratory Parasitic Infections - Pathology#Dirofilaria immitis|pulmonary arteries]] of dogs and cats
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