The Parasite
Loa loa, otherwise known as the African eye worm, is an interesting and painful, but not usually deadly parasite endemic to certain areas of Africa. It causes the disease Loiasis, and is transmitted by the bite of infected tabanids. It's a blood and tissue-dwelling nematode, and it has no animal reservoir. It is a filarial disease, characterized by long, threadlike nematodes, the adults of which are parasites of vertebrate hosts. These parasites are also characterized by highly modified eggs, microfilariae, that are elongated and wormlike in appearance. Loa loa is not considered to be as serious as the other filarial diseases in its pathogenesis or impact on the host, and is not usually fatal with the exception of risk of side effects with some medications.
Its taxonomy is as follows:
- Phylum Nematoda
- Class: Secernetea
- Subclass: Spiruria
- Order: Spirurida
- Suborder Spirurina
- Superfamily: Filarioidea
- Family Onchocercidae
- Genus and Species: Loa Loa
Synonyms
This particular parasite has a wide variety of historical and local synonyms, far too many to list here. One was mentioned above (African eye worm), and some others are as follows: Dracunculus loa, Filaria lacrymalis, F. loa, F. oculi humani, F. subconjunctivalis, Microfilaria diurna. There are also many synonyms in areas endemic to the disease.