PARA LEC: BLOOD AND TISSUE NEMATODES 3

• Mansonella spp are vector-borne filarial nematodes associated with human infections, including M. ozzardi, M. perstans, and M. streptocerca
• Primary vectors for Mansonella spp are biting midges of the genus Culicoides
• Mansonella perstans is endemic in West, East, and Central Africa, and some neotropical regions of Central and South America
• M. ozzardi is found in Central America, South America, and several Caribbean islands
• M. streptocerca occurs in tropical regions of West and Central Africa
• Symptoms of Mansonella infections include fever, fatigue, pruritus, arthralgias, abdominal pain, headache, neuropsychiatric symptoms, lymphadenopathy, and eosinophilia
• Diagnosis of Mansonella perstans and M. ozzardi is by finding microfilariae circulating in blood, while M. streptocerca is diagnosed by finding microfilariae in skin snips
• Treatment for mansonellosis includes diethylcarbamazine plus mebendazole or ivermectin
• Dracunculus medinensis, known as the Guinea worm, causes dracunculiasis and is found in subcutaneous tissues and muscles of humans, dogs, and sometimes cattle and horses
• The life cycle of Dracunculus medinensis involves humans, dogs, horses as definitive hosts, and cyclops/copepods as intermediate hosts
• Treatment for Dracunculus medinensis includes removal of the worm, filtering water sources, and avoiding contact with contaminated water
• Angiostrongylus cantonensis, known as Rat Lungworm, causes eosinophilic meningoencephalitis in humans and is found in rats' lungs
• Angiostrongylus cantonensis diagnosis is relatively difficult and treatment usually involves symptomatic relief with analgesics
• Prevention of Angiostrongylus cantonensis includes proper eating habits, safe food preparation, elimination of intermediate hosts, and washing leafy vegetables