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Elephantiasis, is a parasitic infection due to filaria worms--a type of nematode. Mosquitoes are the vector that carries the parasite. They must bite a person and inject the worm and bacteria in the worm which causes an immune response in the host. It is a tropical disease. Once the mosquito bites a person, its larvae migrate to the host's lymphatic system. Once there, they collect in the lymph nodes and cause a blockage of the tissue fluid--lymph. This leads to swelling in areas of the body such as the legs, and genitals although it can occur elsewhere as well. When the larvae mature into adult worms, they mate releasing more eggs which develop into larvae, continuing the life cycle. Another type of elephantiasis is due to contact with irritant soil that can cause a similar reaction. Treatment includes surgery for scrotal elephantiasis, but not for the limb. Drugs like Albendazole, which is used for a variety of worm infestations, is used. Ivermectin, a broad-spectrum antiparasitic, can also be used. Scientists are working on a vaccine to prevent this from occuring. Wearing shoes, washing feet and legs carefully are other strategies along with spraying the area for mosquitoes and using mosquito nets when sleeping, to avoid the disease vector.

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What is the name of the pathogen that causes for elephantiasis?

Elephantiasis, also called filariasis, is due to infection by a couple different types of parasitic worms. The three most common types of worms are; Wuchereria bancrofti, Brugia malayi, and B. timori.


What type of pathogen is hypertension?

Hypertension is not a pathogen; it is a condition characterized by high blood pressure. It is typically a result of lifestyle factors, genetics, or underlying health conditions, rather than being caused by a pathogen such as a virus or bacteria.


What is active acquired immunity?

Active acquired immunity occurs when you get an infection by a pathogen (bacteria, virus) and your body responds and removes the pathogen and also your body makes "memory" cells. These cell remember this pathogen and when it enters your body again you remove it immediately. You are now immune to it. You usually don't notice this.


What is meant by the term attenuated pathogen?

An attenuated pathogen is a weakened form of a disease-causing microorganism that is used in vaccines to stimulate an immune response without causing the full-blown disease. Attenuated pathogens are less virulent than their wild-type counterparts, reducing the risk of causing illness in vaccinated individuals while still eliciting a protective immune response.


What is an avirulent pathogen?

An avirulent pathogen is a pathogen that is unable to cause disease in its host. This may be due to mutations that have reduced its ability to infect or harm the host, making it less pathogenic compared to a virulent pathogen.

Related Questions

What are some diseases with a living pathogen in the environment?

Tuberculosis, Elephantiasis, African trypanosomiasis (Sleeping Sickness)


What is the named pathogen that causes Diseases like elephantiasis caused by these worm-like animals?

The three main causes of elephantiasis are Wuchereria bancrofti, Brugia malayi, and B. timori. With Wuchereria being the most common.


What is the type of pathogen that causes the disease elephantiasis?

Elephantiasis or filariasis, is a parasitic infestation of nematodes. The three nematode species that infect humans and cause filariasis are Brugia malayi , Brugia timori , and Wuchereria bancrofti .


What type of worm causes elephantiasis?

the Filarial round worm causes elephantiasis


What is the name of the pathogen that causes for elephantiasis?

Elephantiasis, also called filariasis, is due to infection by a couple different types of parasitic worms. The three most common types of worms are; Wuchereria bancrofti, Brugia malayi, and B. timori.


What type of mosquito spreads elephantiasis?

people are infected by the bite of an infected female anopheles mosquito


What type of pathogen cause CHD?

Sometimes bacteria is the pathogen involved.


What type of pathogen is tetanus?

Tetanus is caused by a bacterium, Clostridium tetani, so the pathogen type is bacterial.


Is elephantiasis a viral disease?

No, it is caused by a parasite called Wuchereria bancrofti, a type of roundworm.


Which type of water pollutant would parasitic worms would be classified as?

pathogen


What type of pathogen is the tetanus?

virus


Which type of disease does a pathogen cause infectious or noninfectious?

A pathogen causes infectious disease. For instance, influenza virus is the pathogen that causes flu.