Parasites

A plethora of intestinal and abdominal disorders can be confused with the symptoms and signs resulting from parasitic infection or infections. The diseases and problems experienced by many adults and children in North America has a connection to parasites, indeed many common health problems experienced by people tends to have a parasitic basis. The vitamins, the essential minerals and amino acids sourced from food required by the body is actively sought by the parasites as well and thus there is a competition between the host and the parasite for the same foods and organic compounds entering the digestive system. The toxic and waste compounds that these same parasites secrete or eliminate into the gut and bloodstream of the host are in addition capable of bringing on adverse reactions in the host and increase the various allergic and autoimmune reactions felt by the host. The digestive tract is the usual entry point for parasites and such parasites tend to bring on acute changes in the appetite of the host, in addition to disorders in the stomach and may also cause a lot of abdominal discomfort to the host, such as the cramping of muscles and sudden changes in the stool, along with diarrhea and other digestive system problems. Parasitic infections that are not detected or identified over long periods of time can cause malabsorption syndrome in addition to many other chronic digestive problems for the host.

The incidence of intestinal parasites is not confined to tropical regions and many internal parasites are cosmopolitan in distribution. Indeed, it is believed that one or more parasites may be harbored by eight out of every ten people in the North American population. International immigration and travel is increasing the incidences of parasitic diseases and the number of people who are affected by such parasites is really skyrocketing. In addition the contamination of water and food supplies is leading to an abrupt and widespread increase in cases of parasitic infections. The increase utilization of day-care centers is also fanning the spread of microbes, the increase in people with household pets, the increase in the number of chemicals used from day to day, the presence of mercury in food and the use of prescription antibiotics are also all fanning the epidemic and incidences of parasitic infection is increasing on a world wide scale. The use of most antibiotics for example leads to the elimination of the body's own population of friendly intestinal bacteria, these are some of the body’s first line of defense against many parasites and their removal leaves the body wide open to parasitic infection.

The size range of different intestinal parasites is vast and they come in microscopic forms to some worms that might extend a few feet in length. The infection is usually through the consumption food or water contaminated with the eggs and larvae of the parasite, these parasites may also be transferred directly from one person to another in some cases-needless to say, the means of infection differs for each parasite. A very common way for the contamination is through the consumption of improperly boiled or unpurified water. High risk foods are all types of fruits and vegetables which are eaten without being peeled or cooked, the consumption of very rare, undercooked or even raw meat and fish, also posses a risk and the chances of infection, spreading is increased on the consumption such foods.

The highest concentrations of intestinal parasites is found in the commercial pork products available in supermarkets, these products include processed pork products like bacon, ham and hot dogs, in addition to cold cuts and pork chops sold in packets. Contamination is also high in products made from beef, chicken, lamb, and even fish products especially the raw ones have high incidences of parasites. For example, the Japanese foods sushi may be contaminated by the larvae of several parasitic worms though this may depend from place to place and the quality of sushi meat is likely to differ in many parts of the world. Parasites of many kinds are also very likely to occur in the meat of cows that have been consistently fed the dried dead flesh of other cows. These cows are likely to be infected by parasites of many kinds which can become embedded in all the organs of the cattle and the meat sourced from such animals will always be contaminated. The use of Franken foods and is likened to cannibalism by many people, the use of these foods is a growing practice in many places in North America as the genetically engineered foods used often combine human DNA along with the plant cells in order to create new foods. Such food items are the new sources for many viruses, all kinds of bacteria, all manner of fungi and many intestinal parasites.

Good over all health leads to a significantly reduced risk of parasitic infections-thus healthy individuals are less likely to suffer from an infestation of internal parasites. An unhealthy intestinal environment is also the perfect place for many of these internal parasites to thrive and multiply uncontrollably. The first avenue by which the chances of infection increase is through the consumption of an unhealthy diet coupled with a poor or impaired immune system. All types of internal parasites are likely to be easily eliminated by the action of strong stomach acids along with the digestive actions of all the other digestive enzymes. The large majority of people get infected and pick up parasites while traveling, thus people may get intestinal parasites while traveling either in North America or in other regions with a warmer climate-traveling puts the person in an alien environment where the likelihood of contracting disease is greater. In addition the resistance of many travelers to germs and parasites is reduced and low as the traveler is physically exhausted and he or she is unused to the different climate, to the different foods and to the change in time zones, and all these factors combine to lower the resistance of the individual to infection from any germ or parasite. Taking careful precautions and maintaining proper health will increase the ability of the person to resist disease and infection, the majority of parasitic infection that tend to occur during a time of travel are generally preventable-by and large, carefulness and precautionary measures are sufficient to defeat the chances of an infection settling on the person.

Some internal parasites can also gain entry via the skin especially when the person takes a bath and parasites can also come through he skin of the feet as when a person walks barefoot or they can be transmitted from insects via the bites of insects like ticks and mosquitoes, since such avenues for infection exist besides the main one, it is important to take all the extra precautions possible. This prevention of infection is harder to gain against some disease and certain types of internal parasites, the best example being malaria-aside from avoiding the bite of mosquitoes-which is not always possible-there are really no good defenses against infection from the malarial parasite. The chances and risk of infection is also greatest in children as they tend to touch everything out of curiosity, they will without hesitation touch everything including the soil and dirt, and they will also check out their various orifices and touch each other during playtime. To avoid the risk of recurring infection and to prevent the passing of infection to others, a strict rule of hygiene must be followed by the individual once he or she is infected-this is a very important step as prevention is the best possible of all choice in dealing with internal parasites. Good hygiene practices such as regularly washing the hands extremely well following every trip outside or following the daily toilet is a good step, hand should also be thoroughly washed before and following every meal or snack taken during the day.

Supplements and herbs

Though it helps immensely in promoting intestinal health, supplements of the friendly bacteria Lactobacillus acidophilus will not eliminate the internal parasites-though it can defend against infection. Its main duty is in preventing the onset of pathogenic populations of harmful bacteria and other germs, this is an important factor to achieve a full recovery from the infection in the intestinal region. While supplements of the lactobacillus can be used to treat all manners of parasitic infections, the friendly bacteria is especially recommended for specific use during an attack of amoebic dysentery, this disorder might come on as a secondary problem during an infestation by an internal parasite. Another effective supplement is the garlic used either raw or in the form of herbal capsules. Parasites are effectively dealt with using the raw form, however, patients tend to prefer the capsules as the odor is easier to tolerate and is almost nonexistent in the capsule.

An array of parasitic organism can be beaten back using the seed extract of the grapefruit, this herbal remedy is an excellent natural medicine against internal parasites, such as Giardia which is a common infection in some countries. The long tem use of this extract is possible and the body tolerates it even over an extended period of time. The herbal extract can be taken in the form of an herbal liquid remedy or if preferred in the form of tablets. Both the friendly bacterial supplements of the Lactobacillus acidophilus, along with the common garlic or the grapefruit seed extract can be used as herbal preventive remedies and used on a daily basis. To help in the digestion of proteins and to destroy parasites before they reach the intestines take enzymes such as papain from papaya or bromelain found in pineapples along with the daily meals on a regular basis. The parasites that come along in the contaminated food are easily dealt with using these supplemental digestive enzymes and the use of these herbal enzymes will afford some protection to the person.

The inhibition of parasitic reproduction and the prevention of parasitic multiplications can be achieved with the use of clay; this natural remedy has been traditionally used to deal with all types of internal parasites. Parasites are easily flushed out of the digestive system by the ingested clay; this natural medicine is also capable of absorbing poisons found in the intestinal tract. The risk of getting infected with intestinal parasites increases if individuals have a deficiency of the natural hydrochloric acid in their stomachs, this scenario is possible with particular reference to individuals over forty years of age, this deficiency in stomach acid heightens the risk of parasites settling in as the strong acids action of the stomach acids is missing in such individuals. Most intestinal parasites are eliminated by the body’s own digestive hydrochloric acid, however if the person has developed any food allergies, with specific reference to foods like wheat and to dairy products, then these might in their turn cause an inhibition of the acid and reduce its ability to kill parasites. All foods that cause allergies must be removed from the diet of the individual-such individuals should in addition, use regular glutamine doses as supplements along with some digestive enzymes, and supplements such as apple cider vinegar, or even some Swedish or stomach bitters-these supplements will bolster and enhance the effect of the acids in the stomach.

The following herbal remedies do not produce any side effects in the person, they are effective in eliminating all known internal parasites-however, and they need to be taken continuously for longer periods of time. If parasites have managed to embed themselves in the intestinal walls and the muscles of the host, then no type of medication or herbal remedy used alone will be able to remove the parasites, this situation can prevail for years at a stretch. The therapy must aim at initially exposing and softening the mucus-encrusted waste which surrounds the area in which the parasites have embedded themselves. A colon cleanser can easily achieve this end. A colon cleanser is a solution made from a combination of herbal soluble fibers such as those sourced from ground flax seeds, from psyllium husks, from agar-agar, the root of the comfrey, the beet root, the pectin of citrus husks, the pectin of apple and the dried fruit extracts made using fruits such as figs, prunes and dates and papayas. This main action of the water-soluble fibers is their ability to remove the sludge from the colon, this sludge which coats the intestinal walls is made up of encrusted debris along with mucus-thus these fibers improve the body’s ability to eliminate waste.

A yearly anti-parasitic health check must be adopted, a personal prevention program along with a thorough internal cleansing must be used to effectively eliminate all stages of a parasite's life stage-different internal parasites infect the human host at different stages of their life cycles. Certain health food stores will have some effective worm-and parasite-cleansing programs and ready made kits which can be used in this regard.

All stages of internal parasites in the body can be removed effectively by using a cleansing herbal combination made from the following herbs-a single tbsp. each of the wormwood, the husk of the black walnut along with the juice of clove-this herbal mixture will very easily cleanse the body by removing all stages of parasites that have infected the body. Parasites are also eliminated and killed by the herbal remedy made using the root bark of the barberry herb. This herbal combination must be used every day, and drink at least three cups of this tea every day, the tea is prepared by adding a tsp. of the herbs in a cup of boiling water-let the herbs steep into the water, strain and drink. To increase the removal of toxins from the body accumulated from parasitic activity and to cleanse the bowel, use a herbal tea made from a mixture or combination of herbs such as the witch hazel and the cascara sagrada, the seeds of the pumpkin, the cloves, the marsh mallow and the mullein, the violet and the slippery elm-this tea is also prepared in a similar way to the other herbal teas. The juice or herbal tea of the silverweed herb is specifically suggested for use by individuals who are suffering from amoebic dysentery. Dosage of this herbal tea or juice can be a single cup of the tea or a tbsp. of juice in some water taken thrice each day for as long as necessary. Take some Swedish bitters, about a tsp. before meals to rid the body of all internal parasites.

Homeopathy

All the homeopathic remedies given below can be used at relatively low potencies at about (6x, 12x, 6c, 12x) strength, in addition they can be taken two to three times every day at least for six weeks of continuous treatment-this timeframe is essential as the life cycles of most internal parasites can often last this long. Use the homeopathic remedy called Cina for several weeks at a stretch and its use is common at 30c potency for that long, this particular remedy must be taken only once every day throughout the treatment period. The homeopathic remedy known as Nat. phos. is utilized as a type of "tissue salt," at least in the 6x potency, and its must be taken thrice every day during the treatment period.

• Nat. phos.
  Nat. phos. is to be used in the homeopathic treatment of individuals affected by intestinal parasites and those suffering worm related disorders. This problem also results because of excess sugar, milk and over acidity in the blood complicated by the internal parasites. Physical symptoms include the persistent sour belching, the production of abundant stools, and heavy sweats and persistent perspiration. This remedy is also for use with internal parasites in babies who are still being bottle fed at the time of infection. Physical symptoms can also include the production of excessive gas and a persistent colic state in infants. The patients will crave and desire fried food-especially eggs, he or she will also love a lot of tangy foods and spices. The saliva is yellow, and there is a creamy coating in the mouth and the tongue, this is accompanied by discharges in the eyes. An itchy nose also tends to be always present in the person. Psychological symptoms include apprehension and persistent anxiety. The person is apathetic and seems indifferent to everything happening around him or her. The condition of the person may worsen if he or she eats bread and butter. The presence of one or more of these symptoms requires the immediate use of Nat. phos. as a homeopathic remedy in the treatment of internal parasites.
• Sabadilla
  Sabadilla is to be used in the homeopathic treatment of individuals with internal parasites such as pinworms and related nematodes like the beef or pork tapeworms. Physical symptoms in the patients include anal itching which is very persistent; this sensation often alternates with a persistent itching in the nose or in the ears at the same time. Physical symptoms also include compulsive muscular twitching, the sudden appearance of convulsions and constant trembling in the body. Other conditions that can be triggered are similar to hay fever, sudden bouts of sneezing. Conditions such as nausea, vomiting, and colic are also often seen. The person is affected by a peculiar condition known as worm headache. Psychological symptoms include the presence of persistent and mostly imaginary symptoms. The presence of one or more of these symptoms requires the immediate use of Sabadilla as a homeopathic remedy in the treatment of the patient.
• Spigelia
  Spigelia is to be used in the homeopathic treatment of patients afflicted by internal parasites such as worms. The physical symptoms during the condition are an itching anal region and the presence of a persistent bad breath at all times of the day and night. The patient may also complain of a persistent pain around the navel area. The person is very sensitive to the effects of tobacco. Physical symptoms also include neuralgia in the face, in the eyes, and a great sensitivity to being touched by others. Other symptoms often observed are the presence of a persistent headache from sunrise to sunset-this is repeated daily. Psychological symptoms also begin to manifest themselves, and the patients may be very fearful of the future and anxious about things. The patient is also often affected by stuttering even though he or she may not normally stutter. Symptoms such as palpitations are also seen. The condition of the patient often worsens in cold and damp environs. The presence of one or more of these symptoms requires the immediate use of Spigelia as a homeopathic remedy in the treatment of the patient.
• Tanacetum
  Tanacetum is to be used in the homeopathic treatment of individuals afflicted with internal parasites. Physical symptoms include the persistent muscle spasms which occur over the course of the day and in the night. There is as lot of twitching during sleep, and the patient may often wake up in fright at night. Physical symptoms also include physical fatigue, other disorders such as epilepsy, which suddenly arrives when the person is sleeping or while he is walking normally. Other symptoms also include the presence of sudden bouts of diarrhea accompanied by abdominal pain; this situation may only be relieved by passing some stool. Psychological symptoms include irritability, and a great sensitivity to noises and loud sounds. The person may make many contorted gestures in the face at nighttime, and he or she may suffer from tics. The presence of one or more of these symptoms requires the immediate use of Tanacetum as a homeopathic remedy in the treatment of the individual.
• Teucrium
  Teucrium is to be used in the homeopathic treatment of individuals afflicted by internal parasites such as pin and thread worms or even those affected by round worms. Physical symptoms include persistent nervousness and irritability. The person may be extremely restless and affected by sleeplessness at night. Physical symptoms also include crawling and itching sensations in the rectum and the nose, the condition of the patients worsens from the warmth in bed. The person may also be affected by a chronic mucus production problem. The presence of one or more of these symptoms requires the immediate use of Teucrium as a homeopathic remedy in the treatment of the condition.

What else you can do

Make sure that you walk barefoot only along beaches which have clean sands or sands continually cleansed by the ocean waves or tides as contracting parasites via the bare feet is a very real possibility.

Usual dosage

• Grapefruit seed extract, three capsules thrice a day.
• Garlic, three capsules thrice a day.
• Lactobacillus acidophilus, one tsp. or three capsules.
• Clay, one tsp. in 1/2 cup of boiled water two times a day.
• Digestive enzymes, two capsules.
• Glutamine, 500 mg.

More useful herbs

• Artemisia
• Asafoetida
• Aspilia
• Cajueiro
• Carrot
• Coptis
• Myrrh
• Pau d'Arco
• Pineapple
• Quassia
• Strophanthus
• Wormseed

Protozoa

Protozoa are now given their own order in the living kingdom though they were at one time thought to be minute animals as they were motile and were not green like plants-they now have a distinct kingdom under the classification scheme for all life on earth. Many protozoa are parasites on man and cause from mild to extremely dangerous diseases-some of them are parasitic on man and form the simplest of all the internal parasites because of their minute size. The cellular organization of a protozoan is vastly more complex and the size is much bigger even though like bacteria, all protozoa are one-celled organisms-the entire organism is composed only of a single cell. The type of environments that most Protozoa live in is very cosmopolitan and their distribution is ubiquitous, they are found in almost every watery environment and in damp places - this includes ponds, rivers, lakes and fish tanks, ditches etc.

The majority of protozoa do not cause harm to animals or people, and are considered free-living, which is to say that they do not require a host for living and multiplication. However, there are several protozoan’s which are parasitic, among these parasitic organisms, some can bring on extremely serious health related problems to individuals unlucky enough to be infected by the protozoan. The first pathogenic protozoan to be identified was far back in 1875 a protozoan. The parasitic protozoan was a type of amoeba called Entamoeba histolytica, which is also known as the dysentery causing amoeba-it is very common in occurrence and affects people around the world. One of the first and perhaps one of the greatest early microscopist and cell biologists, Anton van Leeuwenhoek was the one to notice a species of protozoan gliding about in his own feces that he examined. The tiny microscopic life form was of the Giardia genus and from since Leeuwenhoek's discovery, the parasites such as the Giardia lamblia and the protozoan species Cryptosporidium, have been connected to the cause of painful intestinal infections along with outbreaks of severe diarrhea around the world. Water that has been polluted by human or animal feces normally contains these two parasitic protozoans, and drinking such contaminated water is the usual cause of disease.

Babesiosis

A parasitic protozoan, known as Babesia microti is responsible for outbreaks of this disease. The parasite enters the red blood cells of various animals it infects and causes the typical symptoms so characteristic of the condition. The main reservoir for the disease are rodents, the mode of transmission of the disease is through the bit of ticks, perhaps of similar species which are involved in the transmission of Lyme disease –thus ticks are the main vectors for the disease and spread it out from the rodent hosts to other animals including man by biting. A common disease called Texas fever-sometimes also known as cattle tick fever which affects cattle is caused by a protozoan related to this species.
The condition produces symptoms in the affected individuals, all of these symptoms seem to be related or similar to the symptoms seen in patients affected by malaria-which is also caused by a protozoan. The physical symptoms include persistent tiredness and physical fatigue lasting seven days after initial exposure to the parasite, this initial period is followed by a period where the patient develops sudden chills, along with other conditions like fever, a severe headache and muscle soreness in the entire body. Some affected individuals often progress to anemia and kidney failure though the majority of symptoms are mild and the condition mostly resolves itself in weeks. Fatalities in certain cases have however been known to occur, this is true with particular respect to patients who are of in the older age groups. No specific medications exists for the condition though symptomatic treatment using the same medications used to treat malaria have been tried out with some success-prevention is the best policy as far as this disease is concerned and incidences are rare.

Chagas' disease

A protozoan disease of the topics-Chagas’ disease is a serious health issue in Latin America. The protozoan organism known scientifically as Trypanosoma cruzi is responsible for the conditions, the disease is widespread in Central and South America-where it is a public health concern. The vector for this disease is an insect known as kissing bugs, sometimes known as the "cone-nosed bug", people living in areas with marginal housing infrastructure which is infested with this insect are likely to contract Chagas’ disease-family. The insect vector is of the insect family Reduviidae, the subfamily Triatominae, and the genus Triatoma-this insect is again very common in South America. The opossums and armadillos and also infected humans serve as reservoirs for the protozoan, the insect which is a blood sucker transmits the parasite from such sources to uninfected animals and people - infections spread usually in the same family among humans - the insect passes the parasite from host to host as it sucks blood and leaves waste matter on new hosts.
After a bug has fed on an infected mammal, it will transmit the protozoan which has already passed down its intestine with the waste it leaves on the skin of the uninfected host animal or human. When this area is involuntarily scratched by the human, the waste in the insect bite area contaminates the wound and repeated scratching bruises the skin-the protozoan is also often passed through the eyes-when the person rubs the waste, the protozoan enters the body using the broken area of the skin. The tropical disease was identified in 1912, by the Brazilian physician Carlos Chagas-hence the name Chagas’ disease.
The appearance of a small red sore on the skin or the development of swollen and reddened, inflamed eyes are the most common early symptoms of the disease in man. After several weeks, the sore in the affected area of skin appears to heal and gives off a crusty scab which is soon lost, this leaves behind a small, dark scar in the area-if the person is lucky. In other cases, the initial symptoms may be succeeded by the appearance of fevers, the development of swelling in the lymph glands and nodes, and the development of skin rashes over the entire body. The severe forms of Chagas’ disease can involve the heart and symptoms such as chest pains and a sudden shortness of breath become common. Convulsions may also come, if the disease affects the nervous system-the entire body may be involved in continuous convulsions in such cases. Fatalities can result in some cases of the condition-it remains a health risk.

Giardiasis (Beaver fever)

This fever is a human parasitic disease which is the most common forms of parasitic disorder in parts of the United States and in other areas of North America-in particular the western regions of Canada. The cause of the fever is a tiny parasitic protozoan organism which is called Giardia lamblia. The parasitic organism stays in the inner surface of the human gut, and is particularly found in large numbers in the small intestine of affected individuals. The common physical symptom aside from an increase in the temperature of the body is a persistent infectious diarrhea.
The usual source for the spread of the parasite is through the consumption of contaminated food and water. If strict and proper sanitary conditions are not maintained, many childcare centers and nursing homes become areas from which outbreaks of giardiasis frequently occur-thus children are one of the first to fall victim to the parasite. The mode of transmission of the parasite in the majority of all infective cases is through the entry of parasitic cysts into the digestive tract along with the contaminated food or water-such sources usually contains fecal wastes from humans and other animal vectors.
About three weeks following initial infection from the parasite, chronic diarrhea begins to affect the individuals afflicted by giardiasis-this is the usual time frame for the appearance of this symptom in the majority of patients. In addition to this symptom, the affected individuals also develop symptoms of nausea along with other complaints such as a persistent and severe abdominal discomfort. The digestive system is disturbed during prolonged periods of infection, the end result may be sudden weight loss in the affected individual-this is due to the very poor absorption of the digested food from the intestinal region. The individual may remain infected for several years at a stretch, though in certain cases affected individuals begin to show spontaneous recovery from the symptoms.
The major reservoir of the protozoan parasite in the wild was earlier believed to be the beavers-this was believed to be true for many years until recent evidence showed otherwise. The domesticated cattle and sheep are now known to be the major reservoirs for the disease according evidence seen in the recent studies. It is now believed that the beavers, similar to humans, may probably be a secondary host and not a reservoir for the parasite. Animals like the beavers, the voles, the muskrats and kangaroo rats have all been shown to have the ability to carry this parasite-they may all act as hosts similar to humans.

Sleeping sickness (African trypanosomiasis)

A small fish like protozoan parasite causes the dangerous disease known as sleeping sickness - this deadly disease is widespread in certain areas of Africa. The protozoan is a trypanosome-a type of nematode worm, this worm can swims around in the blood of its victims by lashing its whip like tail or more accurately its flagellum. The infamous tsetse fly is responsible for the transmission of this lethal disease. The fly bites and sucks blood, once the parasite enters the body. The person slowly losses consciousness and death ensues if the parasite manages to invade the regions of the spinal cord and the brain of its victims. The chances of dying from the disease is very high once a person is infected, and sleeping sickness is known to wipe out the entire domestic meat supply in an area- as this parasite also infects livestock such as cattle. Fatalities of both human and animal victims are high in areas where the disease is endemic and prevention is the best option against the disease. The habitat of the tsetse fly is widespread in tropical Africa and some scientist and health experts feel that with rising temperatures due to global warming, the possibility of this habitat greatly expanding exists. In such a scenario, the tsetse fly as well as the parasite has a cosmopolitan area to infect. This is not the only worst case scenario for one insect vector; it is generally believed that global warming might expand the habitat range of other insect vectors as well-leading to the spread of more tropical parasites to other regions of the world.

Leishmaniasis

The parasitic protozoan leishmania is responsible for this debilitating and often lethal disease-which is prevalent in some tropical and sub tropical regions of the world. A tiny blood-sucking sand fly is responsible for the spread of this deadly parasitic protozoan-this fly is the only vector for the parasite. The condition known as visceral leishmaniasis, otherwise known as kala-azar is the most lethal stage in the progression of the infection. In endemic areas, the disease is capable of wiping out two thirds of the population of some severely affected villages-this is true especially in rural areas in the tropics where medical care is poor or entirely unavailable. The presence of a persistent fever, a dark gray skin, the presence of severe anemia are some of the first physical symptoms of kala azar, in addition, the spleen and the liver become grossly enlarged, and this results in an unsightly distention of the abdominal region. The disease can turn lethal very quickly if the symptoms are left untreated for any long period of time, kala azar is usually dealt with using medications which contain the heavy metal antimony-such drugs are the only effective cure against the parasite. The white blood cells in the body are the area in which the leishmania protozoan actually resides within the body-these are the protective cells that should have swallowed up the protozoa when infection began. The white blood cells ingest the protozoan but are not able to destroy or digest it. The result is that the leishmania protozoa thrives inside the very white blood cells on which the body depends for its own protection. The white blood cells in which the protozoan reside is destroyed over time, similar to a disorder like HIV, this naturally wreaks immense havoc on the immune system of the afflicted person. Opportunistic and deadly bacterial infections such as pneumonia or dysentery overcome the body's weak and ineffective defenses as the white blood cells die in large numbers due to the protozoan. If this goes on, the person dies from the symptoms.

Malaria

The real meaning of the word malaria is simply "bad air" This bad air was supposed to have made people very ill with an intermittent fever according to the ancient Greeks, when they first came across the disease. Indeed, the ancient Greek physician Hippocrates supposed that it was caused by the coming of miasmas upon the person-these are the deadly mists, which supposedly disturbed the careful balance existing in the body's four humors-which is the ancient medical belief for the blood, the phlegm, the black bile, and the yellow bile. On the other hand, an imbalance in the yin and yang within the body was supposed to have caused paroxysmal fever-namely malaria-according to the ancient Chinese medical system and the disharmony between these two opposing male and female life forces within the body was attributed to be the cause of the condition. Several centuries back the great taxonomist and biologist Carolus Linnaeus made a hypothesis that malaria may be caused by the presence of tiny suspended particles of clay in the drinking water, this suspended particulate matter is supposed to have led to the clogging of blood vessels, and an impaired circulation was supposed to have brought on the disease. All of these were theories on the cause of malaria made before the advent of the microscope and at the very beginning of modern science, it was not until 1898, that the true causative agent of malaria would be identified – the British doctor Ross would correctly attribute it to the bite of an infected mosquito and he would go on to identify the lethal pathogen as a type of protozoan.
Only the bite of the female mosquitoes of the anopheles species is responsible for the transmission of malaria in humans and the few other mammals that can be infected. The female anopheles is the only mosquitoes which are vectors of the human malaria; male mosquitoes do not bite and cannot spread the disease. When the female anopheles mosquitoes bites its victim, it sucks blood through a puncture hole in the skin of the individual and at the same time will inject thousands of threadlike protozoan larvae called sporozoites-these larvae are of the plasmodium species of protozoan’s. Once they are in the body of the victim, the sporozoites will travel via the blood stream straight to the liver, where each one of the larvae will begin to infect and live in a liver cell of its own. Within these liver cells, the sporozoites round up and begin dividing at a rapid rate, multiplying repeatedly to produce up to forty thousand spores per individual larvae. Two weeks pass as the production and multiplication of spores in the liver cell continues, there are absolutely no signs or symptoms of the illness during this window period and the person is healthy. Here however, the first seeds of full blown malaria are being planted to begin the invasion of the body.
The bursting of the liver cell in which the spores have formed triggers the first clinical signs and is the starting stage of the attack on the body - the person has heavy sweating and develops a high fever at this stage. The bursting liver cells now begin releasing the numerous spores directly into the bloodstream of the victim. At this stage, each individual spore now invades a red blood cell where it will reside for sometime, slowly using up the cell's hemoglobin content and increasing in size. The spore then divides or shatters into many smaller fragments-this is an asexual means of producing thousands of other spores-the scientific name of the spores at this stage is merozoites. Finally the red blood cell wills also bursts, and this will release all the merozoites present within and these then invade new blood cells in the neighborhood. This cyclic effect and the repeated infection and rupturing of red blood cells will finally bring on a chronic malarial condition and may result in the death of the person.
The rupturing and invasion of the red blood cells is a very well timed affair and there exists an amazing synchrony to the entire infection process within the bloodstream of the victim. The underlying causes for the simultaneous rupturing of millions of infected red blood cells to release their merozoites are still not fully understood and needs to be studied. The worst bouts of the shakes and shivering are due to this well timed, and en-masse rupturing of the red blood cells within the body.
The final process of transformation of these merozoites into male or female gametocytes also begins to occur following several rounds of infection of blood cells and their subsequent rupturing - these gametocytes are the reproductive cells of the plasmodium parasite and at this stage of infection, the human phase of the parasitic life cycle can be deemed to have ended. If the patient is lucky, he or she would have survived this stage-however, he or she is infective at this stage because if a female anopheles mosquito sucks this malaria infected blood, it will also take in millions of the parasitic gametocyte cells. The gametocytes of the protozoan will undergo further development into eggs and sperms within the body of the female mosquito, starting the next stage in their new host and fertilization of these gametes will occur within the body of the insect.
The cycle is completed when the fertilized eggs of the parasite grow into the threadlike sporozoites within the body of the mosquito and these then make their way to the mosquito’s salivary glands, ready for transfer to a new human host. At this particular time, the female mosquito becomes a deadly vector for the malarial parasite and her bite will transfer the new sporozoites to start a new cycle within another human host.
A very interesting fact is that people with the sickle-cell anemia disease and even those who suffer from its milder form, or those who have the sickle-cell shape trait in the red blood cells, are likely to have much greater protection against malaria offer. Sickle cell anemia deforms the red blood cells of the body and this changed shaped of the cells, directly inhibits and prevents the protozoa from residing within the cell. This is a evolutionary response to malaria as the people suffering from the sickle-cell anemia tend to be largely concentrated in regions of the world with the highest rates of infection from malaria-the sickle cell shape of red blood cells is a genetic defect common only in human populations exposed year round to malarial disease.
So, how exactly is malaria treated? And what kinds of weapons are employed against the disease. Drugs and anti-malarial medications are some of the tools with which doctors and scientists treat malaria directly-the disease can also be controlled by regulating the population of the insect vector. The quote "Treat the patient, not the mosquito” was often used by Robert Koch, the brilliant microbiologist who won fame with the identification of tuberculosis. The only anti-malarial drug which was available in his day-which was the late nineteenth century was the plant derived drug known as quinine.
The anti-malarial drug quinine, is a medical preparation derived from the bark of the cinchona tree, it had been used in traditional anti-malarial remedies by the natives of South America for centuries. As of today, it is still used as an excellent anti-malarial medication in many parts of the world. High dosages of the drug are unfortunately toxic, and it can cause deafness when used in the high doses needed completely remove the plasmodium parasite from the body. Till less harmful derivatives were obtained in the 1930s, its use was extensive and universal-it has now been substituted by less harmful derivatives synthesized from the same plant. The compound chloroquine is the main synthesized medication used to treat malaria these days. However, as a drug of choice in the treatment of malaria, the drug chloroquine has been largely displaced by another anti-malarial mefloquine in most countries around the world.

Flatworms

For humans, the protozoa are not the only parasites. Other organisms also see humans as very hospitable hosts. Some externals parasites are the well known, ticks, lice, and mites-these are external parasites or ectoparasites, these organisms feed on the humans without actually entering the body or the tissues. As far as possible fatalities and human disease is concerned, however, far more important are two groups of internally parasitic worms-the endoparasites which actually reside within the body and feed on digested food, blood and even living tissue. These are the simple multicellular organisms such as the flatworms and the roundworms, which have sacrificed free-living for a freeloading lifestyle within their human host.

Tapeworm

Tapeworms are commonly carried in the tissues of fish, cattle and pigs-all of which are carriers of the tapeworm and act as vectors for the transmission of the parasite to the host. The consumption of improperly cooked fish or pork is therefore not advised due to this danger. The long and ribbon like appearance of the adult worm gives the tapeworms their name-the adult organism may sometimes extend several feet long when stretched out. The worm larvae that a person who eats raw or undercooked meat accidentally, attaches itself to the walls of the small intestine-the worm posses hooks and suckers on the head like protuberance, here the worm will feed on the digested food of the host and may grow to become sixty feet long - which is more than eighteen meters fully stretched out. Such worms are the ultimate parasite, evolutionary well adapted to the environment that it finds itself in-these extremely interesting creatures conducts its life for living comfortably off the hosts. Thus a tapeworm posses no mouth and there are no traces of a digestive system as it absorbs food already digested by the human host. The animal lost all of these organs over time by completely adapting itself to this way of life. Thus the tapeworm soaks up digested nutrients like a sponge within the host and lives protected from the external environment. Only the ability to perpetuate the species has been retained by the animal and to this end the tapeworm still possesses a highly developed reproductive system, which continues to assure future generations of the species. All tapeworms and most internal parasites are hermaphroditic. Which is to say that each and every individual worm will posses both testes and ovaries-both male and female sets of sexual organs. All the eggs that the animal will ever produce are thus self-fertilized and these are then released in large numbers in the feces of the host. Eventually and accounting for the vast number of eggs-a few of these find their way into the body of a fish or a cow or pig through animal food contaminated with human feces. Depending on the species which acts as the vector, the worm will then begin a new life cycle in the animal host and the cycle of infection will continue-assuring the perpetuation of the species. The eradication of the disease and the elimination of most internal parasites of the digestive system therefore depends on the careful and regulated maintenance of proper sanitation and effective disposal of sewage. In addition and as a preventive measure, the thorough cooking of all meat and fish will result in the elimination of the larvae-this will prevent infection from occurring even if the meat is infested by the worm larvae.
An infestation of tapeworms will make a person physically weak, cause malnourishment, and will often induce an anemic state in a person. Tapeworms can also induce severe diarrhea and related problem in the digestive system of the infected individual. Serious complications and fatalities have been known in some cases, where the worm travels to other vital organs in the body-such as the lungs and the brain. A brain riddled by small and numerous encysted tapeworms was the cause of death for a woman on whom doctors conducted an autopsy, after she died due to sudden epileptic convulsions, therefore these parasites are dangerous for humans. In the majority of cases however, an infection with these tapeworms will not bring on life-threatening situations and is not even particularly debilitating to the person-most people are not even aware that they carry worms within them. Direct sighting of fragments of the worm is the usual way by which individuals may become aware of a tapeworm infestation-this may occur when a body segment of the worm breaks off and comes out in the stool of the person. Medications which literally put the worm to sleep are the usual modes of eliminating these worms from the digestive system, and any chance of destroying these worms involves the use of oral medications as only chemicals will defeat the strong grip that these organisms maintain on the lining of the intestines. The action of chemicals in drugs is the only way for the worm to release its tight anchor on the intestinal walls. This flushes out the worm similar to the action of a purgative agent. Tapeworm heads need to be removed from the body, otherwise rest of the body may simply grow back over time and the worm will survive.

Schistosomiasis

This disease is caused by worms called flukes and the adult fluke is much smaller compared to the adult tapeworms, however, what the flukes lack in size they make up in the sheer devastation they cause within the body of the host. A particularly nasty fluke is the fluke, known simply as the blood fluke or the schistosome, the extent of disability and debilitation crated by this internal parasite world wide is next only to the effect of malaria. Due to the enormous range in the symptoms induced by the flukes, one cannot predict with any degree of accuracy, as to the number of people suffering from some form of schistosomiasis around the world. The affected person is weakened and dies in very uncomfortable and unpleasant manners arising from the actions of the worm inside the body. Blood fluke infections can give rise to conditions such as heart disease and epilepsy, disorders such as kidney failure can result, in addition, disorders like the cirrhosis of the liver and the degeneration of the lung and even cancer may all arise as symptoms in the victim.
It is during puberty that the earliest signs of schistosomiasis often occur in the unfortunate victim. Some of the physical symptoms felt at this stage include the sudden occurrence of strange and scary events - such as the sudden and inexplicable reddening of the urine with blood-this is almost always a shock to the victim. This event is even considered as a sort of male menstruation in parts of the African continent as it is very common as an event; this reddening of the urine with blood is the signal for the onset of the disease, among boys infected with the condition.
The appearance of bloody urine is caused by the actions of the parasite within the body of the victim and is merely one manifestation of the symptoms induced within the human host by the parasite. The tiny schistosome larvae gain entry into the body of a new healthy individual by entering the body when an individual and quite often a young child bathes or wades into water infested with larvae-for example, a farmer who wades through rice paddy, may be entering waters that are teeming with millions of tiny schistosome larvae, these enter the body and grow into adult flukes. Infection results when these tadpoles like larvae, which are just the size of pinheads penetrate the skin, the passage of these larvae into the body will induce an initial and temporary rash in the body of the host-this first sign, usually fades away. The end of infection is not this sudden fading off and total disappearance of the rash-the fluke is merely biding its time within the body. Soon afterwards, following this short interval, the worm larvae gain entry into the bloodstream and are transported by the blood or travel initially to the liver. Inside the liver these larvae mature into adult worms, and from this organ they then enter a vein. This is the place where the schistosome resides and begins its parasitic phase. Different schistosome species will choose specific vein for parasitic activities. For example, a particular species will travel straight to the veins found in the lower intestinal area. While another species of fluke, prefer to settles in veins found in the upper intestine. Another species of flukes reside within the veins that surround the urinary bladder.
The physical size of the male schistosomes is about three-quarters of an inch and they are stout little worms. Attachment of the worm to the inner walls of veins is by two suckers on the head like anterior region. The physically narrower and shorter females, settle into the grooves like recesses that run down the entire length of the male worm’s body. Thus the females remain within the male body in a sort of monogamous conjugal arrangement for the rest of their lives-the lifespan of the female worms may last as long as thirty years in some cases. The main role of the females for most of the thirty years lies in the continuous production of enormous amounts of eggs-the females on a single male may average about thirty-five hundred eggs on a single day, this reproductive rate ensures the perpetuation of the race.
The chief cause of pathogenic effects on the victims is due to these vast number of worm eggs-these must find their way to the outside and cause symptoms as they make their way into different areas of the body. The larval forms arising from these eggs do not remain long in the venous home of their parents-they immediately begin to burrow into the blood vessel, propelled by a desire to make their way outside the body. The eggs need find their way into the interior of the urinary bladder or into intestine, from where they might be ejected with the urine or feces produced by the host-this is a necessary condition for the spread of the flukes to other hosts. The next stage in the life cycle of the flukes can only continue outside the human body, this stage of the life cycle requires a new host and the worms must now parasitize a water snail. In areas where there are no water snails or in areas that have entirely different snail species-the larval flukes will die out and cannot develop into the forms which are capable of infecting humans-once they are ejected with urine or feces, the larvae have just a day to find a new snail host failing which they die out. Thus the chain of transmission and the spread of the schistosomes parasite is stopped and the chain of infection is broken if snail hosts are not found at the right time. This elimination of water snails, should theoretically lead to the full control and elimination of the parasite, this is however, complicated by the unfortunate fact that snail populations in waters contaminated by human feces and urine is very high in much of the third-world tropics-which are regions hardest hit by this parasite.
The enormous numbers of eggs and larvae that is produced by the worm is to assure continual survival of the species as the majority of the larvae from eggs which begin their journey in the veins of the host will never survive to enter into the lumen of the intestine or urinary bladder of a new human host. In addition, all larvae that enter the body may never reach target tissues, and most are entangled within the tissues of different organs, where they are responsible for triggering a cascade of immune system responses and sudden physiological reactions from the body of the host. The areas in which the eggs are entangled will show a lot of inflammation and swelling in the tissues. The varied symptoms of schistosomiasis will finally set in due to these reactions and the development of abnormal tissue masses starts.

Roundworms

Any pet animal brought to the house, whether it is a puppy or a kitten, must first be examined using standard veterinary procedures-one of which is the proper de-worming of the pet. This can be accomplished by the use of a simple pill or two on the cat or dog. The internal parasites common in young pet are a species of intestinal worms simply known as the roundworms, which are elongated and threadlike creatures which are often seen wriggling about in the feces of the animal. These are nematode worms and this scientific name - nematode, is a Greek word rendered as nema-“thread," and tode-worm. Unlike the appearance of the flattened tapeworms and flukes, these so called roundworms are called “round” precisely because the body is not flattened and is rather cylindrical.

Among all existing parasites, the roundworms remain the most common in occurrence and are the most widespread of all known internal parasites across the world. These roundworms even parasitize plants and no single animal species is without its own particular species specific roundworms; thus these parasites are very successful organisms and have adapted to a wide variety of host species. It is known that humans can be affected by at least fifty species of roundworms, among these about a dozen are very common parasites which can cause great disease, can lead to the disfigurement of the host, and even result in the death of the individual. A roundworm infection in fact, affects at least one out of every four people during an average lifetime. Roundworms have almost no parasitic equals and strictly from the evolutionary point of view can be seen as successful opportunists that have adapted and constantly seek to gain biological advantage at the expense of other organisms-in short, they are perfect parasites.

Guinea worm

Another common internal parasitic worm in many parts of India, Africa, and large areas of southern Asia is the guinea worm-which may bring on severe symptoms in the victim. The infestations from the female guinea worm has been known to cause incapacitating symptoms that may affect even a whole quarter of the population in a village in these areas and such outbreaks are periodical in occurrence and can induce severe vomiting, diarrhea, and spells of dizziness. These symptoms make it hard for the adult population of such areas to work normally. The female guinea worm often reaches two to four feet in length-while the male worm is only an inch in length, the female worm wanders all over the body for sometime and it finally settles in the tissues lying beneath the skin. The female worm is like a coiled varicose vein in appearance and can often be spotted even during cursory examinations. These affected areas of the body and skin will erupt into blisters which may discharge a milky fluid when the area is immersed in water-this is something that will never occur in a varicose vein. This exuded fluid from the blisters will contains thousands of small larvae-which are there to ensure the perpetuation of the species. A tiny crustacean found in freshwater, called a cyclops is the next host when these larvae are released into water. When people swallow water contaminated with the larvae laden cyclops-the result will be the infection of a new human host by the worm. Physical symptoms include very painful inflammation and crippling muscle damage in the legs as the guinea worm almost always attacks the legs of the victim. This area of the body is by no means the only site of infection by the guinea worm.

Anisakiasis

Many million of Japanese people enjoy a dish of sliced raw fish in their diet and the consumption of raw fish is spreading as Japanese cuisine has spread worldwide. The fondness for sushi and sashimi is paid for dearly by many unfortunate Japanese diners every year, as several hundred Japanese diners contract a parasitic disease known as anisakiasis from eating contaminated raw fish.
The disease has spread even to the united States though incidences of the condition is still not considered to be a serious worldwide problem in terms of the number of people it affects, the disease is also spreading to other countries as worldwide travel increases. The possible dangers inherent in contracting this disease must realized by any lovers of raw fish dishes. Physical symptoms that become apparent in only a few hours after the consumption of raw fish, is the presence of an excruciating pain in the abdominal region coupled with the vomiting of blood-these symptoms are the most prevalent symptoms ever to appear. Physically the larval parasite is about one and a half inch in size-this larva of the anisakis worm is ingested along with the raw meat. Once the parasite gains entry into the body of the host it immediately buries its anterior region or head in the tissues lining the inner areas of the stomach. Here it causes a bloody-two inch in diameter-ulcer, which is nasty in appearance and this ulcer can be detected by looking through a gastroscope-which is a medical tube that is stuck down into the throat and through to the stomach of the victim. The body of the worm is anchored via its head like protuberance right at the center of the inflamed and craterlike wound or ulcer, here the body of the larvae undulates in the stomach juices very much alive and feeding off its host.
The worm can sometimes be removed by the careful use of pincers fixed to the end of the gastroscope and if this treatment is successful, there is no further need for medical intervention and the patient is free of the worm. However, this may not always work out and at other times the doctors must resort to the use of surgery on the affected tissues of the patient to remove the worm. In addition, sometimes the larvae of the worm can also attach itself to the wall of the small intestine much farther down along the digestive tract, and in these cases-surgery is the only option. The physical symptoms such as severe stabbing pain will not immediately appear when the worm is anchored in this way.

Hookworms

The infection from the anisakis larvae is relatively rare when one considers the sheers number of people who consume sushi and sashimi on a regular and daily basis, in fact any cases of infection with the anisakis larvae is rare and is not a very big health concern. Another intestinal roundworm parasite is very different in the ability to infect people in large areas of the tropical and subtropical areas of the world-the distribution of this common parasite is almost universal in these parts.
The physiological characteristics of this small internal parasite give it the name-hookworm. In fact, the adult hookworms can only attain a full body length of about a half an inch. The name of the worm is sourced from rows of tiny hooks or attachment plates that lie within the mouth of this parasitic worm. As the worm sucks in tissue fluids and blood in the gut, these hooks and plates often bite down hard onto the intestinal wall of the host-and thus they are organs of attachment similar to those seen in other intestinal parasites. Crippling and severe anemia can often be the end result, particularly if the number of worms within the body is numerous in the body of a single individual. The anemia is one of the only serious legacies of this infestation. However, severe infestation in children can often lead to the appearance of other conditions and such children often have some sort of physical or mental retardation.
The transmission of the worm larvae is through fecal matter similar to the transmission of so many other species of intestinal parasites. When the contaminated the human waste which contains microscopic eggs is deposited in soil, it leads to the maturation of the eggs and hundreds of tiny eggs are hatched into the soil. Infection of a new host occurs when the hookworm larvae staying in such soils burrow through the skin of individuals who walking barefoot on the ground. Once the larvae fain entry into the body of the new host, they quickly enter the bloodstream and are rapidly transported by the blood into the intestine-which is their final destination and where they will mature into adults, thus the cycle is perpetuated and the species survives.

Filariasis

The disease known as filariasis must be mentioned when talking about different crippling parasitic diseases; this extremely debilitating disease is caused by a species of roundworms called filaria. Areas of greatest prevalence include countries in western and central Africa, along with the countries in the Middle and the Far East, the disease is also prevalent in some parts of the New World, mainly in the southern part of the continent extending from Mexico to Brazil. The greatest medical concern is placed on two filarial worms which are practically close cousins and related species. The first filarial worm causes the condition known as river blindness and the other one causes the elephantiasis-both of these conditions cause severe injury to the human host. It is believed that more than a hundred million individuals may well be affected by the symptoms caused by these two filarial worms together around the world.
The more dramatic in appearance and very debilitating is the disease called elephantiasis. The most noticeable feature of the condition is the immense swelling in the tissues of the host. The name elephantiasis is derived from the fact that the worm often affects the legs of the individual, these become so large in size that they begin to resemble the feet of an elephant-hence the name. Other areas of the body can also be affected and in particular the testicular tissues of men is a vulnerable spot, when this area is affected by the parasite, the testicles will assume gargantuan dimensions and grow extremely large-the size is such that the testicles cannot be hidden and sometimes the person may even be unable to move because of the weight of the swollen testes. For example, one unfortunate male elephantiasis patient found it impossible to walk or move about, unless he placed the huge testicles-which were the size of watermelons-in a wheelbarrow, he carted his own swollen testicles in front of him-in fact, testicles can even assume much larger sizes than this. At the same time, the parasite can also cause the swelling of women's breasts and make them grow to gigantic proportions.
The reproductive activities of the female parasitic worm are the causative factor for the extreme swelling seen in the majority of untreated patients. The female worm looks like a coiled piece of string and grow to be about three or four inches in length when fully extended. The female worm will lie within the lymphatic glands or in the lymphatic ducts-in fact, the lymphatic system is the main site in the body that the worm causes the major damages. Thousands of tiny larvae are produced by these females every day she pumps. All of these thousands of tiny parasites are in the form of tiny and threadlike larvae which are called microfilaria-these larvae will be the main agents of the destruction and swelling in the host of the tissues. The numerous microfilaria swim about and proliferate through the lymphatic system leading to the clogging of lymphatic ducts, this will cause the accumulation of lymphatic fluid, which will finally lead to a swelling in the affected parts of the body.
The transmission of the filarial worm is through an insect vector-namely the culex mosquito species and the bite of this mosquito transfers the worm from one infected human to another human host. The species of mosquito - Culex, is almost ubiquitous in all the areas covering most of the tropics and subtropics. The mosquito breeds in particularly filthy and long stagnant waters such as those in areas where raw sewage is kept. Control of the vector can eliminate incidences of this disease and therefore it is not surprising, that incidences of the disease have increased because of the growth of large cities without proper sanitation and without planning-the numbers of this mosquito species has greatly increased in some areas. The worm that causes elephantiasis also use to exist in certain areas of the southern United States, when it entered the country along with African slaves-however, the disease was eradicated in the country by the 1920s and outbreaks of this particular disease is rare in the country. It is still a scourge in some underdeveloped countries mainly lying in warmer parts of the world.
Infected patients in whom parasitic reproduction has began are all capable of passing on the worm to others. Thus when a Culex mosquito uses its little proboscis to suck blood from an infected human host, it will also sucks up, along with the blood which is its meal, thousands of the larval microfilaria which can bring elephantiasis in another person-of he or she is unlucky enough to be bitten by this mosquito again. Larval development continues rapidly within the body of the mosquito itself and thus the mosquito is not only an insect vector for the disease it can also be something of an intermediate host. The parasite is transferred when the insect succeeds in biting another person again and thus the species of the worm is perpetuated by the human primary host as well as the insect intermediate host.
Another filarial disease known as river blindness-is extremely dangerous and endemic primarily in the African continent. This disease is caused by a filarial worm related to the one that causes elephantiasis. This particular worm is however, transmitted by the bites of the black fly, which is an insect that lives and breeds in habitats that consist of fast-flowing streams and rivers-unlike the stagnant pools, mosquitoes like to breed in. The filarial worm that the bite of this black fly introduces into the unlucky host is a peculiar species of filarial parasitic worm-which almost always infiltrates the tissues in the eyes and tissues along the outer layers of the skin of the victim. In these regions of the body tiny worms in their thousands will be found, these are the snakelike microfilaria-the larval forms of the worm. This ocular infestation has a sad and common outcome, total blindness is common, only impaired vision will result if the host is lucky. The condition of individuals with worms affecting only the skin is not better then other patients. Social ostracism is often felt by patients as the microfilaria cause disfiguring and ugly lesions to appear on the skin. The itching sensation in the affected skin often turns so intense and persistent over time, that suicide is the only option of some patients. The blindness the worm causes is the reason why the disease is known as river blindness.

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