LYMPHATIC FILARIASISBy Morgan McBride

Lymphatic Filariasis is one of the oldest known diseases

“In 1997, the World Health Assembly called upon Member States to develop national plans that would lead to the elimination of LF. In 2000, the World Health Organization (WHO) established the Global Programme to Eliminate Lymphatic Filariasis (GPELF), which has the goal of eliminating lymphatic filariasis as a public-health problem by the year 2020.” -World Health Organization

The story of Hamisu Isa, age 35, from Nigeria

Lymphatic Filariasis is an Infection of the lymph nodes caused by parasitic nematode worms

https://www.neb.com/tools-and-resources/feature-articles/combating-neglected-diseases-a-genomic-approach-to-identify-potential-drug-targets

3 types of filarial nematodes cause LF

• Wuchereria bancrofti*• Brugia malayi• Brugia timoria

http://www.nematodes.org/research/nematodes/fgn/

The parasite is transmitted through a mosquito vector

http://www.2minutemedicine.com

Life cycle: vectorhumanvector

Life cycle: vectorhumanvector

LF affects the lymph system

http://www.mayoclinic.org

Due to the slow progress of the disease, most people are in the

asymptomatic stage of symptoms.

Chronic Symptoms include, lymphedema elephantiasis, paralysis, and hydrocele

jama.jamanetwork.com

The most accurate way to diagnose is the Circulating filarial antigen detection method

LF can only be managed with treatments

• Diethylacarbamazine (DEC)• Ivermectine• Albendazole

http://mumbai.all.biz/diethylcarbamazine-g58199

http://es.made-in-china.com/co_helipharma/product_Ivermectin-1-_heeguigng.html

http://yourmedicinecorner.blogspot.com/2012/06/albendazole-for-filariasis-facts.html

Combination of Albendazole with DEC or Ivermectine is recommended for most effective treatment

The drugs cannot reverse the affects of chronic conditions, so they must be managed

http://www.filariasis.org/management.html

Prevention by lowering the chance of being bitten is key

science.nationalgeographic.com

Let’s go back to Hamisu

LF is a “Neglected Tropical Disease” of the Developing

World.

http://www.cehjournal.org

Approximately 120 million people in 81 countries are infected with Lymphatic Filariasis

LF is the leading cause of permanent and long-term disability. More than 30% of the 120 million people are severely disabled.

Increased disability results in economic concerns in endemic countries

Is there hope for those at risk? And those with the disease?

World Health Organization’s GPELF program has 2 goals

• Stop transmission• Alleviate suffering

and disability

Stop transmission through Mass Drug Administration (MDA)

Data from 2010 to show progress made within GPELF

Mass Drug Administration (MDA) is most effective with the use of several rounds of drugs

Between 2000-2009 2.8 billion doses of medicine were delivered to 845 million people.

There is hope for eradicating LF from the World

Works Cited• "Diagnosis." Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Centers for Disease Control and

Prevention, 01 Apr. 2014. Web. 24 Nov. 2014. • "Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)." Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Centers

for Disease Control and Prevention, 14 June 2013. Web. 24 Nov. 2014. • "Lymphatic Filariasis." - MicrobeWiki. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Nov. 2014. • "Lymphatic Filariasis – Stories From the Field: Hamisu Isa." Lymphatic Filariasis – Stories

From the Field: Hamisu Isa. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Nov. 2014. • "Lymphatic Filariasis." Global Network |. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Nov. 2014. • "Lymphatic Filariasis." WHO. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Nov. 2014. • Ottesen, Eric A., et al. "The global programme to eliminate lymphatic filariasis: health impact

after 8 years." PLoS neglected tropical diseases 2.10 (2008): e317 • Taylor, Mark J., Achim Hoerauf, and Moses Bockarie. "Lymphatic filariasis and

onchocerciasis." The Lancet 376.9747 (2010): 1175-1185.• "USAID's NTD Program." USAID's Neglected Tropical Disease Program: Target Diseases,

Lymphatic Filariasis. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Nov. 2014. • "USAID's NTD Program." USAID's Neglected Tropical Disease Program: Target Diseases,

Lymphatic Filariasis. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Nov. 2014. • "Wuchereria Bancrofti - Lymphatic Filariasis - Elephantiasis." Wuchereria Bancrofti -

Lymphatic Filariasis - Elephantiasis. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Nov. 2014.