With a history extending back millennia, with a biology that leads to permanent disability for tens of millions of people globally, and with a bacterial endosymbiont that may prove to be its Achilles heel, the filarial parasites that cause lymphatic filariasis are quite the complex creatures. In this episode, we explore the intricacies of this neglected tropical disease - also known as elephantiasis. We start by examining its complicated ecology involving many mosquito and parasite species, before moving on to its tricky biology where we finally answer the age-old question, “What is the lymphatic system anyway?”. Next, we move on to the convoluted history of lymphatic filariasis, where it holds the distinction of being the first disease recognized as mosquito-borne. We wrap up the episode with a look at its present global status, grappling with some current figures on the tremendous global burden of this disease and investigating some exciting treatment developments that will hopefully bring relief to the hundreds of millions of people at risk of developing this debilitating disease.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Special Episode: Chlamydia, Koalas, and More!
Ep 94 Chlamydia: Double Trouble
Re-Release: Ep 27 Vaccines Part 2: Have you thanked your immune system lately?
Re-Release: Ep 26 Vaccines Part 1: Let's hear it for Maurice
Special Episode: Electricity
Ep 93 Lightning & Other Stories: Power Hour (and a Half)
Special Episode: Epstein-Barr Virus
Ep 92 Multiple Sclerosis: Scarred nerves & skating saints
Special Episode: Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease Virus
Ep 91 Myxomatosis: Down the rabbit hole
Special Episode: Human African Trypanosomiasis & Drug Development
Ep 90 Human African Trypanosomiasis: A lot to unpack
Special Episode: Hep B Stigma & Discrimination
Ep 89 Hepatitis B: Hepatiti, Take 2
Ep 88 Endometriosis: Menstrual Backwash
Ep 87 C. diff: Fighting poop with poop
Ep 86 Typhus: Another lousy episode
Ep 85 Alcohol: Beer for Thought
Ep 84 West Nile virus: The Crow in the Coal Mine
Ep 83 Diabetes: Short & Sweet
Create your
podcast in
minutes
It is Free