The Loa loa Eye Worm

By: Tara Barker

Loa Loa

The scientific name of this parasite is the Loa Loa parasite.  The average parasite is about 20-70 mm in length.  The life cycle consists of the larve being picked up by a fly, then the fly lands on the human leaving the larve of the loa loa on the skin, then the loa loa go under the skin and become adults who then reproduce.  They live up to 15 years or more.  The Loa loa is the 4th deadliest parasite.  It is commonly found in a humans eye.

Symptoms

Five unique symptoms for the Loa Loa parasite is that you will get three different kinds of swelling, Calabar swelling, fugitive swelling, and tropical swelling.  When the Loa loa moves, it is very painful. The Loa loa is most commonly known to live in your eye which makes it very visible to tell if you have it or not.

Diagnoses

The doctors would first look for any chronic abscesses and pus.  Doctors would right away notice the visible worm in your eye.  the Loa loa is very easy to see.  The Loa loa can also be found in urine, sputum, and spinal fluids.  Any blood samples need to be taken during the day because the Loa loa only move during the day.

Compilcations

The Loa loa also might cause arthritis, colonic lesions, lymphadenitis (infection of the lymph glands), and retinopathy (damaged retina (thin layer on the back wall of the eye)).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oZ0lqK9bXcg 

Go here to view a video of a Toad with the Loa loa parasite in its eye. This video was filmed in Belize (Central America).

Past:

Some past treatments they have used in the past is berberine - containing plants which have been used as an antibiotic and antiparasitic for thousands of years around the world. Goldenseal (Hydrastis canadensis), barberry (Berberis vulgaris), Oregon grape (Berberis aquifolium), and goldthread (Coptis chinensis) share similar effects on parasites because of their high concentrations of berberine. Another treatment is Calendula which is commonly used as a topical remedy for the healing of wounds, pain, or irritations. A tea made from 1 tbsp. Flowers to ¼ quart of water is said to expel worms, as well as to repair tissue damage done by them.  Cayenne is another treament used. Cayenne can be added to a treament plan to kill parasites. The volatile oil, capsaicin, is also recommended for digestive disorders and strengthening internal organs, particularly the heart muscle.  Lastly, there is Cloves which is an ancient herbal medicine used for killing internal parasites and their eggs. The spice exhibits a broad range of antimicrobial activity against other organisms as well, including fungi and bacteria. Cloves also helps to increase the circulation of the blood, promote digestion, and eliminate gas and intestinal spasms.

Present:

Behavioral:

One of the most common behavioral treatment is putting a patch over your infected eye with ointment in it.

Medical:

The most common medical way to get the loa loa removed is surgically removing it.  You can also use DEC or diethylcarbamazine which is an anthelmintic drug that does not resemble other antiparasitic compounds. It is a synthetic organic compound which is highly specific for several parasites and does not contain any toxic metallic elements.  There is also a treatment called albendazole which is an approved treatment for two types of tapeworm larvae, which has been proposed as a treatment for MICROSPORIDIOSIS. The drug works by inhibiting cellular movement. Albendazole frequently impairs liver function and occasionally produces life-threatening reductions in total white blood cell (LEUKOCYTE) count.

Future:

One future treatment is doxycyline which is an antibiotic derived from tetracycline that is effective against many infections. Scientists also are planning on using invermectin treament which is mite treatments could only provide a degree of control, rather than complete elimination of mange mites in guinea pigs. Given its apparent safety and effectiveness when used in correct doses, ivermectin is the preferred treatment for mites, especially mange mites.  Finally, scientists are looking at a treament called onchocerciasis mass treatment which is a proven strategy for controlling onchocerciasis as a public health problem, but it is not known if it can also interrupt transmission and eliminate the parasite in endemic foci in Africa where vectors are highly efficient. 

How do The loa loa spread?

the loa loa are carried around when they are embryos by flies.  when flies land on people, the embryos sink into the human skin and begin their life cycle.

Origin:

Where did the loa loa come from?

The loa loa came from Africa in 1760.  It is most commonly found in rain forest and swamp forests in west Africa

Out Breaks:

1770 - santo domingo - Carribean

1778 - west african slave

1912 - robert thompson

In Africa, 12 - 13 million people had loa loa in their eye.

1910 - patrick manson

Transmission:

Flies carry it around and they land on people.  its Incubation period is 3 years.

Case Study

In Belgium 2002, a man had sensed that he had a foreign body in his right eye.  Doctors Carbonez G., Van De Somple, and Zeyen T. did a case study on the man's eye.  He had calabar swelling in his hands.  The doctors did a Slit-lamp examination and found a transparent worm in his conjuctiva. They put two drops of Cocaine 4% to paralyze the worm.  The also injected his eye with Scandonest 3%.  The made an Conjuctical incision and removed the worm.  His microfliaremia concentration was 152 microfilariae.  To prevent the worm they suggest wearing long pants and sleeping in well screened areas.

Source 1:

Lindsay Borg. 2007. Loa Loa - The African Eye Worm. http://www.stanford.edu/class/humbio103/ParaSites2006/Loiasis/Index.html 

Source 2:

Joseph Cartwright. 2009. Lioasis. http://www.stanford.edu/group/parasites/ParaSites2009/JosephCartwright_Loiasis/CartwrightJoeParasite.htm 

Source 3:

Parasitesinhumans.org. 2010-2012. Loa Loa - Subcutaneous Filariasis. http://www.parasitesinhumans.org/loa-loa-eye-worm.html

Source 4:

Michael Harris. 2000. Loa loa. http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Loa_loa.html 

Source 5:

Carbonez G., Van De Sompel W., and Zeyen T.. 2002. Subconjunctival Loa Loa Worm: Case Report. www.ophthalmologia.be/download.php?dof_id=135 

Source 6:

Wikipedia. 2012. Loa loa. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loa_loa 

Disease Reflection

Student Name: Tara Barker

Disease: Loa loa parasite

What are three things you have learned about diseases in general through this project?

I have learned what the Loa loa looks like in someone’s eye, how the Loa loa gets into your body, and where the Loa loa is most commonly located at.

What challenges did you encounter while planning your project (time management, research, bookbuilder etc.)?

Some of the information was hard to find because the Loa loa is usually just surgically removed and can not be easily prevented.

Did you like or dislike this book project? Why?

I like this project more than our other projects because it was organized by weeks and the program was easy to figure out.

How could this disease book project be improved for next year?

I think that you should have a bigger range of diseases to choose from.

How might you have done better on this project?

I think I could of saved my sources better.

Give yourself a “grade” (1 - 10) and justify why you earned that grade.

I would give myself a 9 because I missed one date on my project but I worked hard and have a lot of useful information.