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Host Factors, Parasite Factors, and External Factors Involved in the Pathogenesis of Filarial Infections

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The Filaria

Part of the book series: World Class Parasites ((WCPA,volume 5))

Abstract

This chapter describes host, parasite, and extrinsic factors independent of the immune system that contribute to filarial pathogenesis. Those with past infection with lymphatic filariasis but with current inflammation or clinical pathology have been the individuals most studied in the past. A significant proportion of patients in filarial endemic areas with hydroceles and lymphedema have active current filarial infection as defined by circulating antigenemia. These individuals with concurrent inflammation and filarial infection are perhaps the most suitable for studies on the relative roles of the filarial parasite itself, the host immune response, host genetics and extrinsic bacteria in the pathogenesis of inflammatory attacks and disease progression.

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  1. Division of Geographic Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, UK

    David O. Freedman

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© 2002 Kluwer Academic Publishers

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Freedman, D.O. (2002). Host Factors, Parasite Factors, and External Factors Involved in the Pathogenesis of Filarial Infections. In: The Filaria. World Class Parasites, vol 5. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/0-306-47661-4_7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/0-306-47661-4_7

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4020-7038-9

  • Online ISBN: 978-0-306-47661-7

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