Mansonella streptocerca

Jump to navigation Jump to search
style="background:#Template:Taxobox colour;"|Mansonella streptocerca
style="background:#Template:Taxobox colour;" | Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Nematoda
Class: Secernentea
Order: Spirurida
Family: Onchocercidae
Genus: Mansonella
Species: M . streptocerca
Binomial name
Mansonella streptocerca
This page is about microbiologic aspects of the organism(s).  For clinical aspects of the disease, see Filariasis.

WikiDoc Resources for Mansonella streptocerca

Articles

Most recent articles on Mansonella streptocerca

Most cited articles on Mansonella streptocerca

Review articles on Mansonella streptocerca

Articles on Mansonella streptocerca in N Eng J Med, Lancet, BMJ

Media

Powerpoint slides on Mansonella streptocerca

Images of Mansonella streptocerca

Photos of Mansonella streptocerca

Podcasts & MP3s on Mansonella streptocerca

Videos on Mansonella streptocerca

Evidence Based Medicine

Cochrane Collaboration on Mansonella streptocerca

Bandolier on Mansonella streptocerca

TRIP on Mansonella streptocerca

Clinical Trials

Ongoing Trials on Mansonella streptocerca at Clinical Trials.gov

Trial results on Mansonella streptocerca

Clinical Trials on Mansonella streptocerca at Google

Guidelines / Policies / Govt

US National Guidelines Clearinghouse on Mansonella streptocerca

NICE Guidance on Mansonella streptocerca

NHS PRODIGY Guidance

FDA on Mansonella streptocerca

CDC on Mansonella streptocerca

Books

Books on Mansonella streptocerca

News

Mansonella streptocerca in the news

Be alerted to news on Mansonella streptocerca

News trends on Mansonella streptocerca

Commentary

Blogs on Mansonella streptocerca

Definitions

Definitions of Mansonella streptocerca

Patient Resources / Community

Patient resources on Mansonella streptocerca

Discussion groups on Mansonella streptocerca

Patient Handouts on Mansonella streptocerca

Directions to Hospitals Treating Mansonella streptocerca

Risk calculators and risk factors for Mansonella streptocerca

Healthcare Provider Resources

Symptoms of Mansonella streptocerca

Causes & Risk Factors for Mansonella streptocerca

Diagnostic studies for Mansonella streptocerca

Treatment of Mansonella streptocerca

Continuing Medical Education (CME)

CME Programs on Mansonella streptocerca

International

Mansonella streptocerca en Espanol

Mansonella streptocerca en Francais

Business

Mansonella streptocerca in the Marketplace

Patents on Mansonella streptocerca

Experimental / Informatics

List of terms related to Mansonella streptocerca

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]

Overview

Mansonella streptocerca, (formerly Diptalonema streptocerca), is the scientific name of a human parasitic roundworm causing the disease streptocerciasis. It is a common parasite in the skin of humans in the rain forests of Africa, where it is thought to be a parasite of chimpanzees, as well.[1]

Mansonella streptocerca is one of three filarial nematodes that cause subcutaneous filariasis in humans. The other two filarial nematodes are Loa loa (the African eye worm), and Onchocerca volvulus (river blindness).

The worm is distributed across West and Central Africa.[2]

Life cycle

The contraction of an M. streptocerca infection can be better understood through an understanding of its life cycle. The life cycle involves two stages: one involving a midge (genus Culicoides) and another involving a human host. First, a midge ingests a blood meal from a human host. This allows third-stage filarial larvae to enter the bite wound. Once inside the dermis, the larvae develop into adults, usually less than 1 mm from the surface of the skin. In terms of size, the females can reach 27 mm in length, whereas the males can be around 50 μm in diameter. These adults then produce nonperiodic microfiliariae, which habituate in the skin, but can also travel to the peripheral blood. These microfilariae are then passed onto the midge when the insect ingests a blood meal. Following the blood meal, microfilariae travel to the midge’s midgut through the hemocoel to the thoracic muscles. In the thoracic muscles, the microfiliariae develop into first-stage larvae, followed up by third-stage development. In this latter stage, the larvae travel to the midge’s proboscis, where it can subsequently infect another human host upon another blood meal ingestion. [3]

Prevalence

M. streptocerca has reportedly been found in West and Central Africa including Western Uganda, the Uganda-Zaire border, and the Bundibugyo district.[4]

Morphology

The adult form of M. streptocerca was discovered by Dr. Wayne M Meyers while working as a medical missionary in Africa. M. streptocerca adults have a unique posterior end that is bent, resembling the shape of a shepherd’s crook. This feature makes it possible for laboratory workers to distinguish M. streptocerca from other species of roundworms.[5]

Diagnosis

The infection of these roundworms typically causes no symptoms but may sometimes cause a mild dermatitis of the thorax and shoulders. M. streptocerca infections fortunately do not cause any nodules, skin disease, or ocular infections like that of Onchocerca volvulus. Due to the absence of nodules, differentiating between M. streptocerca and O. volvulvus infections are easier to diagnose.[6]

Treatment

Treatment of streptocerciasis includes the use of diethylcarbamazine (DEC) which is reportedly effective against the microfilarial and adult stage M. streptocerca, but not proven as a method of treatment. A common drug used to treat roundworms, Ivermectin, is not proven to serve as a treatment for streptocerciasis although it is shown that ivermectin should not be used as a mass treatment in endemic areas where only M. streptocerca is found. This is because the side effects of the drug commonly outweigh the consequences of the infection.[7]

Prevention

Take preventative measures by using DEET or other insect repellents to ward off midges when traveling into endemic areas.

See also

See Mansonelliasis.

References

  1. foundations of parasitology, 8th ed, p 473-474... from Meyers, 2000, in Hunter's tropical medicine and emerging infectious disease 8th ed.
  2. Bamuhiiga, Jotham T. (1998). "Mansonella Streptocerca: Another Filarial Worm in the Skin in Western Uganda". Community Eye Health Journal. 11(26) (28). Retrieved 23 April 2015.
  3. http://www.dpd.cdc.gov/DPDx/HTML/Frames/A-F/Filariasis/body_Filariasis_m_streptocerca.htm
  4. Bamuhiiga, Jotham T. (1998). "Mansonella Streptocerca: Another Filarial Worm in the Skin in Western Uganda". Community Eye Health Journal. 11(26) (28). Retrieved 23 April 2015.
  5. Bamuhiiga, Jotham T. (1998). "Mansonella Streptocerca: Another Filarial Worm in the Skin in Western Uganda". Community Eye Health Journal. 11(26) (28). Retrieved 23 April 2015.
  6. Bamuhiiga, Jotham T. (1998). "Mansonella Streptocerca: Another Filarial Worm in the Skin in Western Uganda". Community Eye Health Journal. 11(26) (28). Retrieved 23 April 2015.
  7. Bamuhiiga, Jotham T. (1998). "Mansonella Streptocerca: Another Filarial Worm in the Skin in Western Uganda". Community Eye Health Journal. 11(26) (28). Retrieved 23 April 2015.

External links

Template:Helminthiases