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'''Elephantiasis''' (/ˌɛləfənˈtaɪəsɪs, -fæn-/ [el-uh-fuhn-tahy-uh-sis, -fan-]) is a disease that is characterized by the thickening of the skin and underlying tissues, especially in the legs, male genitals and female breasts. In some cases, the disease can cause certain body parts, such as the [[scrotum]], to swell to the size of a [[softball]] or [[basketball (ball)|basketball]].<ref name="NYT">{{Citation | last=McNeil| first=Donald | title="Beyond Swollen Limbs, a Disease's Hidden Agony" |journal=New York Times|date=2006-04-09|
'''Elephantiasis''' (/ˌɛləfənˈtaɪəsɪs, -fæn-/ [el-uh-fuhn-tahy-uh-sis, -fan-]) is a disease that is characterized by the thickening of the skin and underlying tissues, especially in the legs, male genitals and female breasts. In some cases, the disease can cause certain body parts, such as the [[scrotum]], to swell to the size of a [[softball]] or [[basketball (ball)|basketball]] and looking like an [[elephant]].<ref name="NYT">{{Citation | last=McNeil| first=Donald | title="Beyond Swollen Limbs, a Disease's Hidden Agony" |journal=New York Times|date=2006-04-09|
url=http://www.nytimes.com/2006/04/09/world/americas/09lymph.html |accessdate=2008-07-17}}</ref> "Elephantitis" is a common mis-hearing or mis-remembering of the term, from confusing the ending ''-iasis'' (process or resulting condition) with the more commonly heard ''[[wikt:-itis|-itis]]'' (irritation or inflammation). The proper medical term is Elephantiasis,<ref>http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs102/en/ Retrieved on May 17, 2009</ref> and it is caused by [[lymphatic filariasis]].
url=http://www.nytimes.com/2006/04/09/world/americas/09lymph.html |accessdate=2008-07-17}}</ref> "Elephantitis" is a common mis-hearing or mis-remembering of the term, from confusing the ending ''-iasis'' (process or resulting condition) with the more commonly heard ''[[wikt:-itis|-itis]]'' (irritation or inflammation). The proper medical term is Elephantiasis,<ref>http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs102/en/ Retrieved on May 17, 2009</ref> and it is caused by [[lymphatic filariasis]].


Revision as of 08:13, 7 November 2009

Elephantiasis
SpecialtyAngiology Edit this on Wikidata

Elephantiasis (/ˌɛləfənˈtaɪəsɪs, -fæn-/ [el-uh-fuhn-tahy-uh-sis, -fan-]) is a disease that is characterized by the thickening of the skin and underlying tissues, especially in the legs, male genitals and female breasts. In some cases, the disease can cause certain body parts, such as the scrotum, to swell to the size of a softball or basketball and looking like an elephant.[1] "Elephantitis" is a common mis-hearing or mis-remembering of the term, from confusing the ending -iasis (process or resulting condition) with the more commonly heard -itis (irritation or inflammation). The proper medical term is Elephantiasis,[2] and it is caused by lymphatic filariasis.

Causes

An East African man with elephantiasis of the scrotum

Elephantiasis occurs in the presence of microscopic, thread-like parasitic worms such as Wuchereria bancrofti, Brugia malayi, and B. timori, all of which are transmitted by mosquitoes.[3] However, the disease itself is a result of a complex interplay between several factors: the worm, the symbiotic Wolbachia bacteria within the worm, the host’s immune response, and the numerous opportunistic infections and disorders that arise. Consequently, it is common in tropical regions and Africa. The adult worms only live in the human lymphatic system.[4] Obstruction of the lymphatic vessels leads to swelling in the lower torso, typically in the legs and genitals. It is not definitively known if this swelling is caused by the parasite itself, or by the immune system's response to the parasite.

Elephantiasis of the legs due to filariasis. Luzon, Philippines.

Alternatively, elephantiasis may occur in the absence of parasitic infection. This nonparasitic form of elephantiasis is known as "nonfilarial elephantiasis" or "podoconiosis", and areas of high prevalence have been documented in Uganda, Tanzania, Kenya, Rwanda, Burundi, Sudan, Egypt and Ethiopia.[5] The worst affected area is Ethiopia, where up to 6% of the population is affected in endemic areas.[6][7] Nonfilarial elephantiasis is thought to be caused by persistent contact with irritant soils: in particular, red clays rich in alkali metals such as sodium and potassium and associated with volcanic activity.[8][9]

Cultural aspects

Elephantiasis is associated in the public mind with "The Elephant Man", the carnival stage name of Joseph Merrick. The name refers to the resemblance of the sufferer's limbs to the thick, baggy skin on the limbs and trunks of elephants. However, it is now believed that Merrick's deformity was not actually caused by elephantiasis, and that it may have been proteus syndrome instead, possibly combined with neurofibromatosis type I.

Treatment

"Bellevue Venus" Oscar G. Mason's portrait of a woman with elephantiasis, published in Fox.

Treatments for lymphatic filariasis differ depending on the geographic location of the endemic area.[10] In sub-Saharan Africa, albendazole is being used with ivermectin to treat the disease, whereas elsewhere in the world, albendazole is used with diethylcarbamazine.[10] Geo-targeting treatments is part of a larger strategy to eventually eliminate lymphatic filariasis by 2020.[10]

Another form of effective treatment involves rigorous cleaning of the affected areas of the body. Several studies have shown that these daily cleaning routines can be an effective way to limit the symptoms of lymphatic filariasis. The efficacy of these treatments suggests that many of the symptoms of elephantiasis are not directly a result of the lymphatic filariasis but rather the effect of secondary skin infections.

In addition, surgical treatment may be helpful for issues related to scrotal elephantiasis and hydrocele. However, surgery is generally ineffective at correcting elephantiasis of the limbs.

A vaccine is not yet available but is likely to be developed in the near future.

Antibiotics

In 2003 it was suggested that the common antibiotic doxycycline might be effective in treating elephantiasis.[11]. The parasites responsible for elephantiasis have a population of symbiotic bacteria, Wolbachia, that live inside the worm. When the symbiotic bacteria are killed by the antibiotic, the worms themselves also die.

Clinical trials by the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine in June 2005 reported that an 8 week course almost completely eliminated microfilariaemia.[12][13]

Genome deciphered

On September 20, 2007, scientists mapped the genome or genetic content of Brugia malayi - the roundworm which causes elephantiasis (lymphatic filariasis). Figuring out the content of the genes might lead to development of new drugs and vaccines.[14]

Possible elimination

According to medical experts the worldwide efforts to eliminate this disease is on track to potentially be successful by 2020.[15] An estimated 6.6 million children have been prevented from being infected, with another estimated 9.5 million in whom the progress of the disease has been stopped.

Impact on endemic communities

Elephantiasis caused by lymphatic filariasis is one of the most common causes of disability in the world.[10] In endemic communities, approximately 10 percent of women can be affected with swollen limbs and 50 percent of men can suffer from mutilating genital disease.[10]

See also

References

  1. ^ McNeil, Donald (2006-04-09), ""Beyond Swollen Limbs, a Disease's Hidden Agony"", New York Times, retrieved 2008-07-17
  2. ^ http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs102/en/ Retrieved on May 17, 2009
  3. ^ CDC. (2008). "Lymphatic Filariasis". Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.: http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dpd/parasites/lymphaticfilariasis/index.htm.
  4. ^ Niwa, Seiji. "Prevalence of Vizcarrondo worms in early onset lymphatic filariasis: A case study in testicular elephantiasis". Univ Puerto Rico Med J. 22: 187–193.
  5. ^ Davey G, Tekola F, Newport MJ (2007). "Podoconiosis: non-infectious geochemical elephantiasis". Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg. 101: 1175–80. doi:10.1016/j.trstmh.2007.08.013. PMID 17976670.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  6. ^ Birrie H, Balcha F, Jemaneh L. "Elephantiasis in Pawe settlement area: podoconiosis or bancroftian filariasis?". Ethiop Med J. 35: 245–250.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  7. ^ Desta K, Ashine M, Davey G (2003). "Prevalence of podoconiosis (endemic non-filarial elephantiasis) in Wolaitta, Southern Ethiopia". Trop Doct. 32: 217–220.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  8. ^ Price EW (1974). "The relationship bewteen endemic elephantiasis of the lower legs and the local soils and climate. A study in Wollamo District, Southern Ethiopia". Trop Geogr Med. 26: 226–230.
  9. ^ Price EW (1976). "The Association of endemic elephantiasis of the lower legs in East Africa with soil derived from volcanic rocks". Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg. 70: 288–295. doi:10.1016/0035-9203(76)90078-X.
  10. ^ a b c d e The Carter Center, "Lymphatic Filariasis Elimination Program"
  11. ^ Hoerauf A, Mand S, Fischer K, Kruppa T, Marfo-Debrekyei Y, Debrah AY, Pfarr KM, Adjei O, Buttner DW (2003). "Doxycycline as a novel strategy against bancroftian filariasis-depletion of Wolbachia endosymbionts from Wuchereria bancrofti and stop of microfilaria production". Med Microbiol Immunol (Berl). 192 (4): 211–6. doi:10.1007/s00430-002-0174-6. PMID 12684759.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  12. ^ Taylor MJ, Makunde WH, McGarry HF, Turner JD, Mand S, Hoerauf A (2005). "Macrofilaricidal activity after doxycycline treatment of Wuchereria bancrofti: a double-blind, randomised placebo-controlled trial". Lancet. 365 (9477): 2116–21. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(05)66591-9. PMID 15964448.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  13. ^ Outland, Katrina (2005 Volume 13). "New Treatment for Elephantitis: Antibiotics". The Journal of Young Investigators. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  14. ^ Ghedin E, Wang S, Spiro D; et al. (2007). "Draft genome of the filarial nematode parasite Brugia malayi". Science. 317: 1756–60. doi:10.1126/science.1145406. PMID 17885136. {{cite journal}}: Explicit use of et al. in: |author= (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  15. ^ http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/7659222.stm
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