human disease

Running Head : Elephantiasis

Lymphatic Filariasis (Elephantiasis

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Abstract

Lymphatic Filariasis (Elephantiasis ) is an ailment that is transmitted through mosquito bites . Its most common effect is the swelling of several body parts (arms , legs , anus , scrotum , etc . Lymphatic Filariasis is concentrated in the Third World , where lack of health services and social stigma hinder patients from seeking treatment

Lymphatic Filariasis (Elephantiasis

It is very ironic that a disease such as lymphatic filariasis still exists in the era of genetic engineering and stem-cell

research . Also known as elephantitis , lymphatic filariasis is a mosquito-borne disease which results primarily in the enlargement of certain body parts such as the arms , legs , anus or scrotum to elephant-like proportions (Slonczewski and Foster , 2008 . Some of its complications include kidney and lymphatic damage . Although lymphatic filariasis is rarely fatal , it can result in extensive and unremitting disability , social stigma and suffering (WHO , 2007

Organism /Agent Responsible

Elephantiasis is caused by Wuchereria bancrofti , a parasitic worm that is present in mosquitoes . Mosquitoes of the genera Culex , Mansonia Aedes and Anopheles are the most common carriers of Wuchereria bancrofti . The larvae (microfilariae ) develop to the infective stage in the thoracic muscles of aforementioned mosquito species . The former then migrates to the mouthparts and are injected when the vector takes a blood meal (Bush , Fernandez , Esch and Seed , 2001

As soon as it reaches the final host , the microfilariae settle and mature in the lymphatic vessels or lymph nodes (Bush , Fernandez , Esch and Seed , 2001...