MICROFILARIA Meaning and
Definition
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Microfilaria refers to the first stage larvae of filarial worms, which are parasitic nematodes that belong to the family Onchocercidae. These tiny, thread-like organisms are usually found in the blood, lymphatics, or tissues of vertebrate hosts, including humans. The term "micro" denotes their minuscule size.
Microfilaria are produced by adult female filarial worms, which reside within the tissues of their host. The larvae are released into the bloodstream or lymphatic system, where they circulate until they are ingested by mosquito vectors during a blood meal. Once ingested, they develop further within the mosquito to later infect a new host.
Under a microscope, microfilaria appear as slender, transparent, or translucent organisms with a characteristic morphology that varies among different filarial species. Their identification is crucial for the diagnosis of filariasis, a group of parasitic diseases caused by filarial worms. The presence of microfilaria in the blood, skin, or other tissues can be detected through methods such as microscopic examination of stained blood smears or skin biopsies.
In humans, microfilaria can cause diseases such as lymphatic filariasis (also known as elephantiasis) and onchocerciasis (river blindness), debilitating conditions characterized by severe swelling, skin lesions, and visual impairment. Control measures for these diseases often involve the use of preventive drugs and vector control strategies to interrupt the transmission cycle of microfilaria.
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A term suggested by Le Dantes to designate the larval form of a filaria circulating in the blood.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
Common Misspellings for MICROFILARIA
- nicrofilaria
- kicrofilaria
- jicrofilaria
- mucrofilaria
- mjcrofilaria
- mkcrofilaria
- mocrofilaria
- m9crofilaria
- m8crofilaria
- mixrofilaria
- mivrofilaria
- mifrofilaria
- midrofilaria
- miceofilaria
- micdofilaria
- micfofilaria
- mictofilaria
- mic5ofilaria
- mic4ofilaria
- micrifilaria
Etymology of MICROFILARIA
The word "Microfilaria" is derived from Greek and Latin roots.
The first part, "micro-", is from the Greek word "mikros", meaning small or tiny. It is often used as a prefix to indicate something very small or microscopic.
The second part, "filaria", is derived from the Latin word "filaria", which means thread-like. This term is used to denote a type of parasite that has a long, slender, and thread-like appearance.
Therefore, combining these parts, "Microfilaria" refers to a very small or microscopic organism that belongs to the filarial group of parasites.
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