Filaria

{fi-lar -re-ah) [filum, a thread]. A genus of nematode or thread-worms of the FIMBRIA 75 family Filariid?e. F. med in ens is, Guinea Worm, an animal parasite, the female of which works its way from the intestinal tract to the subcutaneous ti ue, where, after developing its embryos, it is sooner or later set free by absce -formation and discharge. F. sanguinis hominis, the larva or embryo of the nematode worm, Filaria bancrofti. The embryos are about 0.35 mm. long, and inhabit the lymph-channels of the lower extremities and the scrotum. They lead to dilatation of the lymphatics, to hyperplasia of the ti ues, to chyluria, hematuria, absce es, etc. They are found in the blood at night. Elephantiasis arabum and lymph-scrotum are said to be due to the filaria. 277