ATLASBLOOD, AND SKIN PARASITES
      NEMATODA Order: Filariata

      LOA LOA

      onco1-ic

      Loa loa: life cycle.


      Geographic distribution of Loa loa infection

      loa2-ic

      Loa loa: the infection is endemic in West and Central Africa,
      especially in Angola, Cameroun, Congo, Eq. Guinea, Gabon, Nigeria, RCA, Zaire.


      loa3-ic

      Loa loa: after injection larvae develop into adults in 6 months
      and may live for 17 years in the organism.
      Microfilariae measure 275 by 5-6 µm and are present in blood without periodicity.
      Count is mandatory before therapy.


      loa4-ic

      Loa loa: microfilariae measure with the sheath 240-300 by 5-6 µm.
      The sheath doesn't stain with Giemsa. The nuclei extend
      from the small cephalic space to the tip of the tail.
      (Giemsa stain).


      By Dr. Marc Lontie

      loa5-ic

      Loa_loa_40tris-ic

      Loa loa: the sheath does not stain and appears as a virtual space around the larva.
      (Giemsa stain).

      Loa_loa_40tris-ic: Courtesy of Dr. Marc Lontie:
      Director of the laboratory of the Medisch Centrum voor Huisartsen, Maria Theresiastraat 63a; B-3000 Leuven, Belgium.


      By Dr. Marc Lontie

      loa6-ic

      Loa_loa
      _staart_100x-ic

      Loa loa: the nuclei form a continuous row to the tip of tail.
      The unstained sheath is well visible.
      (Detail of the caudal space, Giemsa stain).

      Loa_loa_staart_100x-ic:  Courtesy of Dr. Marc Lontie:
      Director of the laboratory of the Medisch Centrum voor Huisartsen, Maria Theresiastraat 63a; B-3000 Leuven, Belgium.


      loa7-ic

      Loa loa: large nuclei extend from the little cephalic space.
      (Detail of the cephalic space, Giemsa stain).


      loa8-ic

      Loa loa: the presence of the unstainded sheath is clearly visible
      as a space around the larva.
      (Detail of cephalic space with a polymorphonuclear cell, Giemsa stain). 


      By of doctor Juan Cabezos

      loa8-es1-ic

      Loa loa: microfilaria. Thick film, Mayer's haematoxylin (400 X).


      By of doctor Juan Cabezos

      loa8-es2-ic

      Loa loa: microfilaria, tail area. Thick film, Mayer's haematoxylin (1.000 X).


      loa9-ic

      Loa loa: microfilariae can be demonstrated in blood with fluorochromes
      (Acridine orange stain).


      Courtesy of Doctor Jean-François Magnaval

      loa10-ic

      Loa loa: although direct diagnosis by observation of microfilariae
      in blood is the reference method, indirect diagnostic tests such as
      IF may allow diagnosis when direct observation is negative,
      especially in subjects who are not resident in endemic areas.
      The frequent cross-reaction with other nematode infections limits
      the usefulness of serology in these patients.
      Immunodiagnosis by indirect immunofluorescence.
      Antigen: frozen sections of       Dirofilaria immitis.


      BLOOD....SKIN....