Image Challenge – July 9

Eye Spy: What’s the diagnosis?

Answer: This is Loa Loa! Commonly called the African Eye Worm, this is a filarial parasite endemic to West-Central Africa south of the Sahara. It is transmitted by deer fly bites. Deer flies deposit larvae at the bite site when taking a blood meal. Occasionally, after growing into adults, the adult worms will migrate to the eye.

Reference: https://journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/JCM.01587-20

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