WUCHERERIA Meaning and
Definition
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Wuchereria is a genus of parasitic nematode worms belonging to the family Onchocercidae. These worms are commonly known as filariae and are responsible for causing the group of diseases known as filariasis in humans and animals. The genus Wuchereria includes several species, with Wuchereria bancrofti being the most significant and widespread.
Wuchereria is transmitted through the bite of infected mosquitoes, usually of the genera Anopheles, Culex, or Aedes. The infectious larvae, called microfilariae, enter the bloodstream and migrate to various tissues of the body, where they can cause a range of clinical manifestations.
In humans, Wuchereria infection can lead to lymphatic filariasis, a chronic and debilitating condition characterized by swelling in the arms, legs, or genitals. This condition, if left untreated, can cause permanent damage to the lymphatic system and lead to severe disability. Wuchereria infection may also result in a form of filariasis known as tropical pulmonary eosinophilia, characterized by a hypersensitive response in the lungs.
Control and prevention of Wuchereria rely on various strategies, including the use of insecticidal bed nets to reduce mosquito bites, periodic mass drug administration of antifilarial medications, and elimination of mosquito breeding sites. Additionally, vector control efforts, such as the use of insecticides, larvicides, or biological control agents, can help reduce the mosquito population and interrupt the transmission cycle of Wuchereria.
Common Misspellings for WUCHERERIA
- quchereria
- auchereria
- suchereria
- euchereria
- 3uchereria
- 2uchereria
- wychereria
- whchereria
- wjchereria
- wichereria
- w8chereria
- w7chereria
- wuxhereria
- wuvhereria
- wufhereria
- wudhereria
- wucgereria
- wucbereria
- wucnereria
- wucjereria
Etymology of WUCHERERIA
The word "Wuchereria" is derived from the name of the German physician Otto Wucherer (1820-1870). He was a pioneering researcher in tropical medicine and made significant contributions to the study of parasitic diseases, particularly filariasis. Wuchereria bancrofti, also known as Bancroft's filarial worm, was named in his honor by his colleague Joseph Bancroft, an Australian pathologist. Wuchereria is therefore a eponym, indicating a taxonomic genus named after a person who made significant contributions to the field.
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