Adventure Doc Loa Loa

keeping you healthy for life's adventures

Erik McLaughlin MD, MPH

Also known as “African Eye Worm”. Filarial worms migrate through all tissues of the body. Transient swellings and pruritus are most common symptoms and can take years to appear.

African rainforests and especially Central Africa

Transmission/ Incubation:

Transmitted by the bite of an infected Deer Fly (Chrysops species)

Standard flying insect precautions, vector control, 300 mg once per week DEC for high risk persons

Demonstration of microfilariae in daytime drawn blood smear

Diethylcarbamazine (DEC) 5-10 mg/kg three times per day for 3-4 weeks generally kills larvae and eliminates adult worms. Treat possible histamine based reactions with antihistamines/steroids. Albendazole and ivermectin may have a slower kill of larvae, causing a less severe treatment reaction.

Loa on left
Mansonella on right

Observe that Mansonella has a visible sheath

Loa Loa earning its nickname "African Eye Worm"

Deer Fly (Chrysops species)

This parasite is also known as the African Eye Worm. This is a similar filarial worm to W. Bancrofti but instead of blocking the lymphatic channels, these filarial worms migrate through the soft tissues of the body. These movements through the body cause transient (random) spots of swelling that come and go. The name “African eye worm” comes from the ability to see the filarial worm moving through the infected person’s eye. The disease is contracted from being bitten by an infected Deer Fly (Chrysops Species). This disease is found in the African rain forests. Treatment is with the same drug used for W. Bancrofti, DEC. Use of ivermectin may cause an encephalitis and caution should be used in areas co-infected with onchocerciasis. Caution should be used when treating a “high parasitic load” infection, as encephalitis has been noted, even with DEC.