is a
Parasitic and
Infectious Tropical Disease , caused by the thread-like parasitic filarial worms, ''
Wuchereria Bancrofti '', ''
Brugia Malayi '', and ''
Brugia Timori '', all transmitted by
Mosquito es. It is extremely rare in
Western Countries .
Loa Loa is another filarial parasite of humans,
transmitted by the
Deer Fly .
In
1866 ,
Otto Wucherer demonstrated the presence of microfilariae, or filarial
Larvae , in
Urine . In
1871 ,
Timoth Lewis discovered the presence of microfilariae in peripheral blood; later, in
1876 ,
Joseph Bancroft discovered the adult form.
Finally in
1878 ,
Patrick Manson observed the development of ''W. bancrofti'' in mosquitoes.
Filariasis is endemic in tropical regions of
Asia ,
Africa ,
Central and
South America .
The most spectacular symptom of lymphatic filariasis is (thickening of the skin and underlying tissues), which was the first disease discovered to be transmitted by insects. Elephantiasis is caused when the parasites lodge in the
Lymphatic System .
Elephantiasis affects above all the lower extremities, whereas
Ear s,
Mucus Membrane s, and amputation stumps are rarely affected; however, it depends on the species of filaria. ''W. bancrofti'' can affect the legs, arms, vulva, breasts, while ''Brugia timori'' rarely affects the genitals. Infection by ''
Onchocerca Volvulus '' and the migration of its microfilariae through the cornea is a major cause of blindness (
Onchocerciasis ).
