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Updated: May 22, 2026
12:05
Mass Isolation and In Vitro Cultivation of Intramolluscan Stages of the Human Blood Fluke Schistosoma Mansoni
Published on: January 14, 2018
Nematode infections: filariases.
Stefanie Knopp1, Peter Steinmann, Christoph Hatz
1University of Basel, Petersplatz 1, CH-4003 Basel, Switzerland.
Infectious Disease Clinics of North America
|May 29, 2012
Summary
Filarial nematode infections impact over 150 million globally, causing severe diseases. This review covers epidemiology, diagnosis, treatment, and control of these tropical parasites, including imported cases.
Area of Science:
- Medical Parasitology
- Infectious Diseases
- Global Health
Background:
- Filarial nematode infections affect over 150 million people worldwide, primarily in tropical and subtropical regions.
- These infections cause debilitating and disfiguring diseases, posing a significant global health burden.
- Imported cases are increasingly recognized in non-endemic areas like Europe and North America.
Purpose of the Study:
- To provide a comprehensive review of human filarial nematode infections.
- To detail the epidemiology, distribution, life cycles, clinical manifestations, and disease burden.
- To discuss current diagnostic, treatment, and control strategies, including traveler protection.
Main Methods:
- Systematic literature review of filarial nematode infections.
- Epidemiological data analysis from endemic and non-endemic regions.
- Synthesis of information on clinical features, diagnosis, and treatment modalities.
Main Results:
- Filarial nematodes represent a major cause of morbidity in tropical and subtropical areas.
- Imported infections are a growing concern in Europe and North America, particularly among mobile populations.
- Effective diagnostic and treatment tools exist, but access and implementation vary globally.
Conclusions:
- Control programs have reduced transmission in many areas, but sustained efforts are crucial.
- Increased awareness and targeted interventions are needed for imported cases and vulnerable groups.
- Further research into novel diagnostics and therapeutics can enhance global control strategies.
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